Loved ones of CT teen slain by ex in ’94 plead for judge to deny sentence modification for killer

More than 30 years ago, Jose Crespo was sentenced to 60 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend Melanie Rieger.

At the time, Rieger’s parents were promised that their days spent in court with her killer were over. But Sam and Wanda Rieger, now 78 and 81, were forced to return to a crowded Waterbury courtroom on Wednesday to watch a slideshow of their 19-year-old’s life cut short by Crespo..

Crespo — who the Riegers said they once welcomed into their home, took on vacation and sought counseling for — appeared via a video call from a correction institute in New Hampshire as he appealed to Judge Joseph B. Schwartz for a reduction in his sentence, of which he has served 30 1/2 years.

Melanie’s brother, Randy Rieger, said Wednesday that if the court even considers reducing Crespo’s sentence, “the only thread of justice we have from this brutal murder would be snipped.”

“It seems unconscionable that you would consider putting a family through a second round of grief like that,” he said.

Randy Rieger was joined by his parents and many friends, family members, survivors and advocates who implored the judge to keep Crespo behind bars.

To modify the sentence, Sam Rieger said, “would be to deny justice to our beautiful daughter Melanie.”

“The fact that we are now being re-traumatized by the criminal justice system after 30 years provides proof that we need to support victims of violent crime instead of abusing them over and over again,” he said.

CT parents forced to relive worst nightmare. Their daughter’s killer seeks sentence modification.

Unbearable loss

On May 24, 1994, Same and Wanda Rieger were on vacation in Aruba when they received a message that was every parents’ worst nightmare.

Their 19-year-old daughter, Melanie, was home in Naugatuck and had been in the midst of ending an unhealthy, abusive relationship with Crespo, who was several years older than her.

She told friends and family she was fearful of her ex-boyfriend, who had allegedly hurt the family dog and threatened to burn down the family’s home. Her intuition was right.

While her parents were out of the country, Crespo broke in and strangled Melanie. He put her body in her brother’s hockey bag, wrapped in trash bags. He then took items he stole from the family, like Melanie’s jewelry and a video camera, to a local pawn shop and used the profits to rent a storage locker in Waterbury, where he left Melanie’s body.

Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt asked the court to consider the trauma the Riegers endured losing their only daughter, grappling with the brutal way she was killed and then learning that her body was left to decompose in a storage unit.

“Can you imagine the horror that was compounded when they realized that their beloved daughter, their 19-year-old daughter, was wrapped up like trash in trash bags,” Platt asked.

One of Melanie’s best friends tried to impress upon the judge the length of time she likely suffered under Crespo’s hands and body weight. She counted to five out loud in court, saying Crespo likely had nearly 300 seconds to reconsider his actions.

She and other friends said they struggle with never-ending guilt as they forever try to grapple with what Melanie endured when she was murdered. They spoke of what they miss about her — her sparkling blue eyes and her infectious laugh.

The Riegers said the world was robbed of Melanie’s potential, her loving and caring spirit and her lifelong desire to help others that she was only just beginning to explore.

Sam Rieger said that while the day of Melanie’s murder was the worst day of their lives, the last few weeks have felt comparable.

“May 24, 1994 was the day our world stopped and will never be the same again,” he said, referring to Crespo only by his inmate number.

Reliving the trauma

After a three-judge panel convicted Crespo, the Riegers thought that, at the very least, the trauma of seeing him in court had come to an end.

But on Feb 6, 2024, the Riegers received a letter that Crespo had requested the sentence modification hearing.

“We were told that we wouldn’t hear from the judicial branch anymore. What happened to that promise?” Sam Rieger asked the judge. “The false sense of security is now ruined.”

The Riegers said even the possibility of an early release has resurfaced the grief, fear and sleepless nights they suffered decades ago. Knowing Wednesday’s hearing was coming up, they said, has re-traumatize them beyond description.

Before Melanie’s mother Wanda Rieger spoke on Wednesday, Schwartz told her to take as much time as she needed.

“You shouldn’t be here today. You shouldn’t have to relive any of this,” the judge said.

Wanda Rieger began by noting that her daughter was born on Father’s Day, June 16, 1994. This year, June 16 will again mark Father’s Day and her birthday.

“She would have been 50,” Wanda Rieger said. “Instead she’ll always be 19.”

Rather than celebrating, they spend these holidays at the cemetery. Every milestone, every anniversary, is always painful now. But this year, she said, has felt worse.

Wanda Rieger described the anguish she felt after her daughter’s death. She spoke of weeks spent in bed, recalling how Melanie’s dog would sit outside her bedroom door waiting for her to come out. She said it took her and her husband 15 years to open the door to that bedroom and go through their daughter’s things.

Wanda Rieger told the judge that when Crespo “decided to squeeze the life out of our beautiful daughter” he didn’t just kill Melanie.

“A piece of us died that day when Melanie was murdered,” she said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t wake up or go to sleep thinking about her.”

While Crespo remained on the video call, Wanda Rieger said that his decision to apply for a modification showed a lack of remorse.

“If he was truly sorry he wouldn’t put us through this again and would serve his given time,” she said.

“Please keep him in prison to serve the original sentence,” Wanda Rieger begged the judge.

Schwartz on Wednesday also heard from Crespo.

“I took a beautiful life,” he said. “I am here before you today a truly (remorseful), repentant man seeking a second chance,” he said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Melanie Rieger.”

Crespo also spoke directly to the Riegers, offering them an apology for what he did to their daughter.

“I have been waiting 30 1/2 years to be able to express how truly sorry I am for the pain I have caused you,” he said. “What’s been on my mind and heart since that day (is) deepest remorse.”

Crespo said he knew nothing he could say would be enough to ease the Rieger’s pain or his shame.

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing whatever it takes to honor Melanie,” he said, calling her a great and special person.

“I caused you a lifetime of pain and for that I am truly sorry,” he added.

During his 30 1/2 years in prison, Crespo said he has completed a lot of therapy, taken multiple courses, worked in the kitchen and learned a lot about his own mental health. He is currently enrolled in college, seeking a degree in business management.

“Since my sentencing I have been working very hard to try to understand how this happened and to make sure it never happens again,” he said. “I have put 100% effort into learning growing changing for the better.”

Crespo said he has created a strong support network that he plans to lean on if he is released early. His brother and niece also spoke on his behalf, vowing to support him.

“Please know, regardless of the outcome of this hearing I am committed to change,” he said.

Crespo said May 24, 1994 was also the worst day of his life.

“I know that deep within my heart I will never allow myself into the same state of mind I was in 1994,” he said.

One of Melanie’s teachers spoke toward the end of Wednesday’s hearing, saying that the possibility of a sentence modification was “a continuation of this nightmare” for all those who loved Melanie.

“Do not let Melanie’s family be victimized again, your honor,” she said to the judge.

Schwartz said that given the emotions heard in court on Wednesday, he owes it to the families on both sides of the case to make his decision swiftly. He said he has 120 days to render a decision on a sentence modification, but that he plans to work through the weekend and issue his decision much sooner.

“I’m going to work as quickly as possible so we can put this chapter, at least, behind both parties,” Schwartz said.