Family Of Woodmansee Victim, Local Reps To Host Petition Signing In NK

When news of , the South Kingstown  around the family of Jason Foreman – the five-year-old who was murdered by Woodmansee in 1975. Now, the family and its supporters are looking to drum up support around the state for legislation that would bar violent criminals from early release.

Tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at  on Post Road, Representative Doreen Costa will host a petition signing for the legislation, called the. On hand will be members of the Foreman family and local representatives.

“We’re trying to take a really negative situation and make something positive happen from it,” said Melanie Foreman

Woodmansee was sentenced to 40 years after his murder conviction in 1983. Because of Rhode Island’s good behavior credits, he is being released nearly 12 years ahead of schedule. The petition aims to stop criminals convicted of violent crimes from being eligible for these credits.

“This [reform] isn’t going to help our family now,” said Foreman. “We’re doing this so that other families won’t have to go what we’re going through.”

Thus far, support for the reform has been strong, says Foreman.

“We’re already on our second print job of the petitions,” said Foreman. “We probably have more than 2,000 signatures that I know of so far.”

It’s the second petition signing the group has held; the first was the kick-off event in Wakefield at the Elks Club. Foreman hopes to hold other events and signings across the state.

Foreman and family have set a Sept. 1 deadline for the petitions to be turned in: the same day Woodmansee is set to be released into state custody.

“Michael is just one of many,” said Foreman. “He’s the one who gets the headlines, but there’s hundreds more who aren’t in the headlines and there are families out there who are just as devastated as we are.”

For more information on the proposed reform and/or to sign the petition, check out the Foreman's website here.