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Parole Denied
Triple murderer, John Wayne Card, had his 14th subsequent parole rehearing today. The hearing was attended by Assistant District Attorney Michael Coffey who opposed parole on behalf of the People of Glenn County, as well as members of the victim’s family who also passionately spoke in opposition to Inmate Card’s parole. The Parole Board denied Inmate Card parole for 3 years, after a 3-hour hearing.
In 1974, John Wayne Card murdered three members of the Griffiths family; as part of a robbery scheme. He then kidnapped and held hostage three members of the Skillin family for nearly a week while he attempted to evade law enforcement. Finally, after abandoning the Skillin family by chaining them to a tree in the forest, he was captured near Truckee by a coalition of northern California law enforcement agencies and the FBI. Inmate Card was convicted at a jury trial and sentenced to death. However, in 1976 the California Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty violated the California Constitution and commuted the death sentences of Card and approximately 70 other inmates to life in prison. The California Constitution was later amended to overrule the state Supreme Court, but the commuted death sentences could not be reinstated.
The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the family of the victims for their attendance at the hearing and bravery in speaking out against this dangerous killer being released. We would also like to thank Victim Advocate Ojeda for supporting the victim and coordinating their participation.