Michael Woodmansee Update: Psychiatrists to review journal of R.I. child killer on verge of release

(CBS/WPRI/AP) PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Rhode Island judge has given state psychiatrists access to Michael Woodmansee's journal to aid their mental evaluation of the soon-to-be-released convicted murderer.

Woodmansee is set to be released from prison in August after serving 28 years of a 40-year-sentence for killing 5-year-old Jason Foreman of South Kingstown in 1975.

Jason's father, John Foreman, told WPRO-AM last week that if Woodmansee is released, he intends to kill him as aggressively and painfully as Woodmansee killed his son.

"I do intend, if this man is released anywhere in my vicinity, or if I can find him after the fact, I do intend to kill this man," he said on WPRO-AM's John DePetro Show.

Jason was stabbed and killed by Woodmansee, who was their neighbor in South Kingston, R.I.

According to CBS affiliate WPRI, the boy's shellacked bones and skull were found in Woodmansee's home seven years later, while police were investigating an attack on a local paper boy.

John Foreman called Woodmansee a monster and a cannibal who ate his son's flesh off his bones.

Woodmansee's journal was sealed by the court in 1983. Since then it's been in the possession of the South Kingstown police chief.

The judge's ruling came down Monday morning.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin had asked a judge to grant access to the journal to help state psychiatrists determine whether Woodmansee is too mentally ill to be released into the community.

More on Crimesider
March 9, 2011 - Michael Woodmansee Update: John Foreman, father of boy Woodmansee killed, reveals new details of crime
March 7, 2011 - R.I. father says he'll kill son's murderer if man is released