Convicted Murderer Running for Palm Bay City Council Seat 3
Aug 05, 2024 -- 04:30pm // The Blake Moia Show
Brevard County is getting ready for the elections -- and so are all shady people rubbing their hands together trying to scout out who they can screw over in the most corrupt county in the State of Florida.
Michael Bruyette, age 59, is running for Palm Bay City Council Seat 3. Records show the candidate for city commissioner was convicted of second-degree murder in Massachusetts back in 1986.
Candidate Running on Several Issues
According to a mailing, the candidate says he will fight for several issues such as: Accountability, motorcyclist rights, job opportunities, at-risk children, and affordable housing. However, that candidate has a horrific past.
Bruyette spent 30 years in prison for beating a man to death in June 1985 before he was paroled with special conditions in 2016 for demonstrating good behavior, according to state records.
"This City is Going to Hell"
In an interview, the candidate for office says "the city is going to hell. No body wants to do anything." He elaborated on the corrupt insurance industry - saying it needs reform.
So far, it seems like the locals are welcoming his candidacy, despite his murderous background. Why? Because of the "transparency" he brings to the community.
"I think people are more receptive to the fact that I am transparent," he said. "What about the ones that are sitting on that board right now that aren't transparent? Because I can tell you a whole lot," Bruyette said.
CONVICTED OF MURDER
State of Massachusetts records show that Bruyette's friend, Lisa Grimshaw, "solicited" Bruyette and two other friends to kill her abusive ex-husband, stating that her ex had a $300,000 life insurance policy "that she would share with them if they assisted her in killing him." Bruyette was 19 years old at the time.
State officials said Grimshaw drove Bruyette and one of the others to a boat launch area, where they hid while Grimshaw lured her husband out to the car with a promise of sex.
“Later that night, they cleaned the car and stayed at Ms. Grimshaw’s apartment, where Bruyette and Grimshaw slept together,” a case statement reads.
Bruyette was arrested and pleaded guilty to both second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.
"It Was Never My Intention to Kill This Person"
"It's nothing more than me intervening on a guy that kept repeatedly raping his ex-wife, breaking into her home, beating her up. One night, the abuse was happening, and this happened," Bruyette said of the night that landed him three decades in prison. "It wasn't my intention to kill this person."
"My case never went to trial. I stepped up, and I said, yes, I did it," Bruyette told Fox News of his crime. He added that prosecutors "made it out to be much more than what it was.
Granted Parole
According to Local 6 News, due to the parole rules at the time, Bruyette became eligible for parole in August 2002, though he was initially denied, state records indicate.
After spending 3 decades behind bars, Bruyette was finally released from prison. He was granted parole in 2007 and released in 2009 - moving on to live with his father and stepmother in Palm Bay, a parole board announced.
“Bruyette took positive steps while on parole that included obtaining full-time employment with the City of Palm Bay in their maintenance department and reporting that he had an internship with the City’s wastewater management plant,” Bruyette’s parole history reads.
However, that changed in 2011.
Going Back to Jail
Bruyette was arrested on charges of battery and assault in 2011, records say. Though he was ultimately acquitted, court records show, he still spent time in prison.
Despite the acquittal, his parole was revoked due to his conduct.
In an arrest report, Palm Bay police said they responded to a local home over reports of a domestic violence situation.
Upon arrival, they found that Bruyette had gotten into an argument with the victim, resulting in him punching the wall and saying, “I’m going to kill you,” the report states.
He was charged with:
- Irresponsible Conduct — Bruyette verbally threatened to kill the victim and punched a wall in anger.
- Association with a person with a known criminal record.
- Violation of a liquor abstinence condition — A photograph showed him holding a bottle of beer, and testimony indicated that he “drinks every day.”
As a result of the case, Bruyette was returned to Massachusetts as a parole violator, according to state records.
Coming Back to Florida - Why?
It is unclear when he was granted another parole or when he was allowed to return back to Florida. However, after returning to prison, Bruyette appealed the parole revocation in 2014, citing his good behavior and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous, the appeal document shows.
...and now today, he wants authority over you if you are a Palm Bay resident.
“I want this seat because nobody is doing anything here,” Bruyette said.
He spoke with Local News 6 on Thursday, explaining his plans if he gets elected.
“I know what this city needs: we have nothing here for the kids...” he explained. “The Compound which is about 25 minutes away, and there’s high crime. We need an auxiliary station. We need more officers. We need a lot in this city."
So. . . What Now?
Michael Bruyette says to just "trust him".
While discussing his background with News 6, Bruyette said much of the public information out there is skewed by prosecutors.
“A woman was being repeatedly raped, beaten, and I intervened...” he said. “I’m not one that’s gonna stand around and watch someone be victimized like that.”
He also claimed that he didn’t mean to kill Grimshaw’s husband.
“It wasn’t even my intention to kill him. I was going to just put him in the hospital,” he said. “That’s definitely my intention, but when I swung, his head went down, and I caught him in the head.”
Since then, he’s had time to reflect on what happened.
“I kind of regret getting involved because it cost me a lot of my life, and it cost a lot of judgment,” he said.
“That’s something that I can’t put away. You’re just going to have to trust me — let me earn your trust.”
He stated that now that he’s older, he has better judgment. And now, he claims to help the city of Palm Bay.
Even though he’s still on parole, he said he was given the “thumbs up” to run in the election.
“It’s certainly an opportunity to show people that I have changed, but it’s not the reason why (I’m running). I am passionate about this. I love this city,” he told News 6.
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