On a cold night in Brockton, Massachusetts, just after midnight on February 16, 2008, the life of Edward Francis Ed Conley, a 56-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically cut short. A hardworking family man from the nearby town of East Bridgewater, Conley was driving his taxi when he was lured to Galen Street for what would be his final fare. The initial call to police reported a hit-and-run accident, but upon arrival, officers discovered Conley's taxicab on the front lawn of a residence.
Inside, they found him lying across the front seat, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to a local hospital, but it was too late; he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the senseless killing quickly identified three teenage suspects. The investigation revealed a plan to rob a taxi driver. According to authorities, two of the teens, Adilson Neves, 17, and Antonio Fernandes, 16, entered the back of Conley's cab. During the attempted robbery, Neves pointed a gun at the back of Conley's head and fired the fatal shot. A third teenager, Jeffrey Milton, was also implicated in the crime. An Adidas sneaker found at the scene was later admitted by Neves to be his, linking him directly to the crime.
The legal proceedings that followed brought some measure of justice for Edward Conley's family. In April 2011, a jury found Adilson Neves guilty of first-degree murder. Given the brutal nature of the crime, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Neves later appealed his conviction, but Massachusetts' highest court upheld the verdict in 2016, ensuring he would remain behind bars. The other two teens were also charged in connection with the murder. The case saw a later development when a 2013 court decision made Neves eligible for parole; however, his initial parole hearing did not result in his release.
