Jason McLaughlin and Brian Flowers were juveniles when they were sentenced to life in prison for murder. Under a new Minnesota law, they had their cases considered by a newly established parole eligibility board.

State legislature passed a law in 2023 to allow a parole board to review juvenile cases to determine if they should be released from prison.

Jason McLaughlin, who was 15 at the time, became eligible for the hearing after life sentences without parole for juveniles was repealed.