Ivey says Neelley should not be paroled "not now, and not ever."
By Anna Beahm
al.com
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said convicted child killer Judith Ann Neelley, who is up for parole Wednesday, should not be paroled "not now, and not ever."
Ivey made her remarks in a media statement Monday afternoon.
Neelley, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal rape and killing of Lisa Ann Millican, was granted a parole hearing last month after the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unconstitutional a 2003 retroactive law enacted to prevent her parole.
"Under no circumstances should Judith Ann Neelley be granted parole. Her crimes...include acts of unspeakable brutality. And her character includes a disturbing tendency to manipulate others toward her own, violent ends," Ivey said in the statement.
"These things alone should prevent Ms. Neeley from ever stepping food outside an Alabama prison."
Neelley tried to waive the May hearing, but officials said either the hearing happened or Neelley waived her right at a chance for freedom forever.
In late September 1982, Neelley kidnapped Lisa from Riverbend Mall in Rome, Georgia, and took her to a motel room from her husband, Alvin to rape. Alvin raped Lisa four times over the next few days while Judith assisted him by beating Lisa and handcuffing her to the bed.
Neelley then took Lisa to Little River Canyon outside Fort Payne where Neelley injected Lisa six times with liquid drain cleaner in a botched attempt to kill her. After that didn't work, Neelley led Lisa to the rim of the gorge, shot Lisa in the back and then shoved her into the canyon.
Neelley was tried and convicted, and the jury recommended life in prison. However, the judge sentenced her to death.
Neelley's death sentence was commuted to life in 1999 on Gov. Fob James' last day on office. James later talked to The Post, a northeast Alabama newspaper, about his decision.
"That DeKalb County jury, which heard all of the facts that heinous crime in the months right after the events took place, convicted her to life in prison," James said. "Then, the judge changed the sentence to death."
In her statement, Ivey said she would not have commuted Neelley's sentence in the first place.
"Do not forget the depravity of Ms. Neelley's crimes. Do not forget the danger Ms. Neelley poses to society," she said.
Even if Neelley is granted parole, though, she may not have been a free woman. Georgia has a detainer warrant pending for Neelley for a consecutive life sentence in a 1999 kidnapping case. If released from Tutwiler prison, authorities in Georgia could arrest Neelley and take her to a Georgia state prison.
The hearing is scheduled for Monday morning in Montgomery.
https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/20...rt_river_index
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