Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2017 apartment armed robbery, death

BOSTON, January 23, 2023 —A Boston man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery charges today in the 2017 death of a Dorchester man during a robbery at the man’s apartment, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

THOMAS ISAAC, 26, pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to manslaughter and armed robbery.  Judge Mary Ames sentenced Isaac to 19-20 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and to time served on the armed robbery charge.  Isaac has been held without bail since 2017.   He will begin serving the manslaughter sentence immediately.

Assistant District Attorney Julie Higgins said that Isaac and his girlfriend entered the Bowdoin Street apartment building of Nelson Torres-Santa, 55, on November 5, 2017.  Isaac’s girlfriend entered the apartment to by drugs from Torres-Santa.  Isaac then forced his way into the apartment.  He stabbed Torres-Santa in the eye, beat him with his fists and with an electric guitar, then, when Torres-Santa fell, stomped on his head and upper body.  Isaac stole various electronic equipment from the apartment.  Torres-Santa’s body was discovered on November 13 following a request for a wellness check.

 At today’s plea hearing Torres-Santa’s brother expressed gratitude to prosecutors and investigators and stated he holds no grudge against Isaac and that Isaac will have a chance to “do things right.”

“It takes tremendous strength and grace to express such sentiments after suffering a devastating loss of a loved one.  Today this defendant was held accountable for Mr. Torres-Santa’s death, and Mr. Torres-Santa’s memory was well served by his brother,” Hayden said.