A man convicted of murdering a woman nearly 30 years ago was denied parole, Napa County prosecutors announced Monday.
John Lewis Duncan, 52, was convicted in the murder of Marilyn Conners in 1985, in addition to assault with the intent to commit rape of Debbie Ridge, according to the district attorney's office.
Duncan, Conners and Ridge were all patients at Napa State Hospital.
Conners' body was found on April 27, 1985, in a remote area. She had been beaten, raped, sodomized and strangled, according to the district attorney's office.
Two weeks before the murder of Conners, Duncan sexually assaulted Ridge in a remote area with a knife, prosecutors said.
Duncan pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and assault with intent to commit rape in 1986 and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Napa County Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero was at the parole hearing to argue against Duncan's release because the convict lacks remorse in the killing, has a serious record and refuses to upgrade his vocation and attend a self-help program.
Gero also discussed Duncan's disciplinary violations since he's been in prison, the danger he poses to the community if paroled and vague and unrealistic parole plans, prosecutors said.
The state parole board agreed and denied Duncan's release until at least 2021. Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein agreed with the board's decision and said in a statement that Duncan is "a serious danger to the public."
"The families of both victims can sleep a little better with the knowledge that Mr. Duncan remains in prison where he cannot again harm members of our community or any other for many years to come," Lieberstein said.
--Bay City News
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