Bradley Ryan Thomasson, 39, who was sentenced in 1990 to 20 years to life in prison for the killing of his parents over what he described as an argument about his use of the family car, was released Thursday, although he may remain on parole the rest of his life.

He served a little less than 22 years of two sentences for first-degree murder for the deaths of his adoptive mother, Judith Ann Thomasson, 50, and his adoptive father, Ray E. Thomasson, 57, a former optometrist. Each sentence was for 10 years to life to be served consecutively, or one after the other.

They died of gunshot wounds Sept. 22, 1989, at their home in the Lewiston Orchards.

Bradley, who was 17 at the time and a senior at Lewiston High School, will turn 40 in March. He will be on parole for at least five years and possibly for the rest of his life. Early discharge is usually not considered for a parolee who has a sex or violent crime conviction, according to a spokesman for the Idaho Commission for Pardons and Parole.

As a condition of his release, he was ordered to remain in District 4, which encompasses Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties. He is not to enter Districts 1 and 2, which include all of the state from Idaho County north, and to have no contact with the extended family of his victims.

His brother, Matthew Thomasson of Lewiston, said Thursday, "I'm disappointed in the system, but we knew the day would come eventually. I hope that he has learned something while he was in there. We really have nothing to do with him. I'm hoping for the best. I hope things work for him."

The two boys were adopted at different times by the Thomassons, and Matthew, the elder of the two, was living near Tacoma when the deaths occurred.

Bradley Thomasson said in a recorded statement made to police - which was later played in court - he argued with his parents over the use of the family car to go the annual Lewiston-Clarkston football game. He said at one point he told his mother to shut up and his father started hitting him and said they should never have adopted him. He said his father had never struck him before.

In the recording, he said, he picked up a loaded .22-caliber rifle he had set by his bathroom door and his father said to him, "I don't think you have guts enough."

"And I pulled the trigger," he said.

He said his mother told him he would go to prison for it, and he went into his parents' bedroom and shot her, the last time holding the gun's muzzle against her head.

Conflicting testimony said blood stains indicated both were shot in their bed.

Bradley called police about 5:30 that morning and said he found the bodies after seeing an intruder leave the house. He changed his story later that day.

A jury of 12 women brought to Lewiston from Ada County deliberated for just two hours before finding him guilty.

The judge in the case was Ron Schilling, now retired. Steven J. Tobiason was the prosecutor, and Jeff M. Brudie, now a 2nd District judge, was the defense attorney.

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Lee may be contacted at slee@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2266.