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AP
Undated photo of convicted murderer Juan Corona.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A California man who once was the nation's worst known serial killer is up for parole, four decades after the mutilated bodies of 25 farmworkers were unearthed in orchards north of Sacramento.
Juan Corona, 77, has been diagnosed with dementia and mental illness. He is making his seventh bid for parole from Corcoran State Prison in the southern Central Valley.
None of his victims' relatives were expected to attend Monday's hearing, which Sutter County District Attorney Carl Adams said is a sad testament to Corona's crime, which targeted people who had few relatives.
"We have had no contact with survivors for two decades now. The people who he killed were farm laborers who were itinerant. Most of them didn't have relatives who could be contacted back in the '70s at the time of trial," Adams said.
Four of the bodies have never been identified. The bodies of 14 of Corona's victims were never claimed by family members after they were discovered in 1971.
"Not even a single person has family here," Corona told a prison psychologist before his parole was last denied in 2003. "They were all ready to go to the next world."
Corona, a farm labor contractor with a history of mental illness, was convicted of stabbing the men, hacking open their heads and burying their remains near Yuba City, 40 miles north of Sacramento.
His attorney, Leon Harris III of Bakersfield, declined to comment before the hearing.
Assortment of weapons
His first conviction in 1973 was overturned on appeal, but he was convicted again in 1982 and sentenced to 25 concurrent life sentences. He was not eligible for the death penalty because California's capital punishment law had been ruled unconstitutional at the time.
It was the worst known killing spree in U.S. history, until John Wayne Gacy Jr. was convicted in 1980 of murdering 33 young men and boys in his Chicago home. Gacy was executed in 1994 in Illinois.
Investigators found a machete, a meat cleaver, a double-bladed ax and a wooden club, all stained with blood, in Corona's home, along with a ledger book containing the names of seven of the victims.
Most of his victims were white, though several were black or Native American. There was no known racial motivation for his crimes, Adams said.
Corona, a Mexican national and native of Jalisco, Mexico, has maintained his innocence, though at earlier parole hearings he acted confused and told the parole board he didn't recall much. His attorneys have argued that his mental and physical condition makes him less dangerous.
Adams said his deterioration makes him a greater threat to himself and others.
"He is unreliably dangerous. He's also old and not in a condition where he can do well on the streets without prison supervision," Adams said. "Releasing him into the public wouldn't be doing him any good or the public any good."
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Leave a Comment:
Don't unleash him on society. This equals less than 2 years per life. What a joke that he is even being considered.
Welcome to liberal moonbat California!
They gotta go thru the motions or some ACLU nut will complain.
This article does not say this, but He was in Fact an Illegal Alien!!!
What difference does it make if victims(s) had no family members??? Does it make a victim less of a victim???
He's a serial killer. He mutilated and killed innocents for the sake of killing. I don't care if he is thought to be no longer a threat and what gives someone the actual knowledge to say that he really is no longer a threat??? Because they think he has dementia??? These so-called experts have been wrong before but no matter. Let him languish where he is. It's still showing more mercy than what he meted out to those that he murdered.
Good idea, let a mass murderer out, but let's keep all the pot growers in jail. Great idea California.
We are kinder to our dogs when they show signs of aggression and/ or violent mental illness. These people should be euthanized.
Juan will never mow my lawn...And that's a fact Jack!!!
He's up for parol review not release...they're not letting this guy out
They are required to give him parole hearings if he is due for them. They are NOT required to grant parole. Charles Mason gets parole hearings, and you don't see him walking around free.
The doctors can say what they want, but they don't make the decision; that's the parole board's job.
They have to hear the question but they do not have to give the answer desired.
This 77 year old convicted killer doesn't sound like too much of a threat! Release him...let him take up residence with his lawyer in the same home of his family, wife and kids! I'm sure that he'll behave himself!
Welcome to the consequences of 'throw everyone in jail and let them rot there.' KiloByte, every prison in America is overcrowded and few felons serve their complete sentence.
That's not the Liberal viewpoint but the Conservative POV to put non-violent offenders in jail and keep them there for prolonged punishment. The irony, oh, the irony.
Yeah, I felt safe all the years he was in prison. Now that I know he may get released I don't feel safe any longer. I'm gonna start locking my doors, and I advise every one to start doing the same.
Maybe neocons, but not Ron Paul. I have no problem reforming our draconian drug laws. But all other felonious offenders need to be caged like the animals they are.
The other tragedy is that this guy was allowed to live. He should have been fertilizer years ago.
Dementia that makes you kill innocent human beings has a treatment - capital punishment.
And that is supposed to mean.....what exactly? Last I checked we had twice as many people on death row as the next closest state. And we execute them. I don't see too many murderers walking free. (and if you try using OJ as an example, ur a fool)
Actually genius, he wasn't. The first time he entered the country at 16, he was, then he was deported. He re-entered the US legally WITH A GREEN CARD a few years later.
A little research before running to the forums to scream "HE WAS ILLEGAL!!" would have kept you from looking foolish.
Guys, just because there is a parole hearing does not mean that he will be released. I know nothing about this legal case but I can tell you with 100% surety that this man will not be paroled.
when you let scum with a green card invade your country... stuff happens...jump on it...
if he was undocumented...many folk's would like to give... him a undocumented whoop'n...
he will never get out . no body on the parole board is that stupid , right California ?
It's a slow news day and some intern had to suggest a story. This one feeds into the public's interest in serial killers as well as their fear of "oh, my gosh, this person might come to get me!"
It's sad that tabloid news has become so common on this site--but, then, you have to figure that this site doesn't appear to be staffed by people who are tremendously professional; the typos alone give that away.
This fellow would not be released into the public unless there is some awful snafu. He's just up for a parole hearing, that's all. Even if he were released, it would probably be to a nursing home--and there are plenty of people who are violent and dangerous in nursing homes already. I hope they would place him in a nursing home that can deal with this sort of thing if he did get released . . . though, fortunately, that's a long shot.
Yes, I think that we need to stop imprisoning people as a "go to" punishment. It is stupid. It makes more sense to make non-violent criminals pay their debt to society via heavy fines, loss of property, house arrest, and work/release programs where they pay their own way. We need to save prisons for guys like this--who need to stay there permanently.
I agree with beanathome. Violent criminals are released every day while the nonviolent ones may be there much longer.
If a felon moved into my neighborhood, I would prefer the one convicted of grand larceny to the rapist or murderer.
Honestly, the fact that this guy was even allowed to stay alive all these years and is now illegible for parole is an incredible insult to the victims and their families. He never should've been kept alive all of these years and I hope he falls down a long flight of concrete stairs on his way to the parole hearing.
who in their right mind could release a sicko like this.
?
Jerry Brown, thats who!
Libtards.
LOL love it!
Keep him Locked-up, for Christ's Sake !!!....
"...illegible for parole..." ??
Guess he can't read his parole request...
Ca..what else could you expect...
The idea that CA will parole this guy is almost as crazy as the idea that you could convince Viners that he has no chance for parole.
This guy has zero chance of being paroled. Zero. Just like Manson, they are going through the motions. He will never breathe non-prison air again, ever.
Also, the State of CA saved money by not executing him... but don't let the facts revolving how costly it is to execute someone get in the way of the drama.
Okay... fact check is done... back to the drama.
Wow! Can you believe this guy might get out? Only in California! (head shaking smiley icon here)
Yep only in California, like other states don't have a parole system that HAS to utilized. He will never get out, but nutheads like you refuse to understand that, you just want to place blame on California. Glad that you don't live here, we have enough ding dongs to deal with! Rob Reiner, Susan Saradan etc...
Well in Virginia he would have been executed long ago!!!, and for all you people who say that is more expensive, thats because in your states there is the forever process of review/rereview etc etc. Do away with the BS appeals, one should be enough.
You know people say that is costs more to put someone to death with the death penalty than it does to feed, clothe and house them for 20, 30 or 40 years. But I find that hard to believe. It can't possibly cost as much to give them a lethal dose of anything as it would to feed someone that many years much less clothe and house them. Just my opinion. And I have read the articles that say it is cheaper but I still don't believe it.
Annettee- -that's because you don't know the "hidden" costs involved such as the appeals process. Did you think all those attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and the appellate court system were just operating for free? For those of us taxpayers in California, we understand the heavy costs involved in sentencing individuals to death, and we're really very sick and tired of paying for it.
I wondered what ever happened to serving hard time for the crimes you committed? That alone would help alleviate the over crowding in our jails, if these individuals actually had to "PAY" for their crimes against humanity.
Put them to work in chain gangs...........just my take. At least make them earn their keep?
@ lilrkt .. I didn't think of that. Just thinking about the injection. lol I am truely a blonde. :)
@ Truth comes to light. I totally agree with you.
Why do we insist that prisoners "have rights"? To me, they gave up their rights when the ignored our laws. Put them all in a tent city in death valley and make them break big rocks into little rocks for the rest of their lives - no television, no libraries, no recretation, nothing. If they are convicted of murder, one appeal within five years and then carry out their sentence.
Yep...it could only happen in California. There is absolutely no way he should be set free. He should die behind bars where he can't hurt anyone ever again.
kaybee- -are you saying that such murders could only happen in California? If that's your claim, you should read up on John Wayne Gacy. I can't imagine that you think California is the only state which holds parole hearings for inmates sentenced to life in prison. The only reason this is in the news is because of the high notoriety of the case. Don't think for a minute that he's actually going to be paroled. While the rest of the world may look at California as being the most liberal, nut-job state in the country, the fact is that our record on paroling inmates with life sentences is among the toughest in the world. In other words, we only rarely parole anyone- -why do you think that our prison system is so over-crowded that the US Supreme Court ordered us to cut down the population?
Really, what about that guy that abducted, raped and fathered two girls with a young teenage girl? He should never have been paroled either; at least now he'll never be able to rape another young girl.
lilrkt, what I meant was that California has a history of letting murderers off easy. Maybe that is due to prison overcrowding, and maybe I have the wrong impression because I'm only aware of high profile cases. But wasn't Dr. Conrad Murray sentenced to serve only four years?
sigh.... Im sorry people, but sometimes we need to take a HARD look at the death penalty. While not humane, neither are those who earn it. Our taxes shouldent pay to keep people like this alive.
It costs MORE to execute the bastard than to keep him alive. I would support it IF it were quick - but all it does is enrich the LAWYERS
I can get a rope at Lowes for under $10. There are plenty of trees. Wheres the high cost? I can buy a bush axe for about $20 at the same place for a gullitione to cut off his head. Wheres the cost? I can buy a bullet for under 10 cent and will gladly lend them my pistol to shoot him in the head. Wheres the cost? Get my point. It's weak kneed and weak minded individuals that use the excuse that it cost more to execute them than to keep them alive because it's obvious to anyone who's got the common sense of a jackas@ that it doesn't.
I agree Jake, and I'm sure there's bound to be someone willing to pull the trigger to release the guillotine, fire the weapon (I think AK-47, AR-15 would be quite appropriate for some executions), and in the old western days they put the convicted on a horse with noose around their neck and gave the horse a swat so that the convicted was jerked out of saddle or off horse and I'm sure the death had to have been fairly quick.
Problem solved.
Okay, Jake-4017360--you volunteer to live in the society you propose. We will let you go there, get on the wrong side of the authorities, and get set up for the death penalty. Then, when you are strung up with your inexpensive Lowes rope, and an objective review after the fact determines that you were factually innocent, we will all shrug and say "whoops!"
It boggles my mind that the same people who think that the government can't run health care, can't regulate well, and isn't able to even run schools correctly is capable of running a judicial system that is so flawless that we can execute anyone who is found guilty in whatever kangaroo court in Texas--and do it quickly--and we should have no qualms about it.
The judicial system is frequently found to have wrongly convicted people. There are many who have been released from death row due to findings of factual innocence. I think that any one of them would have some choice words for your idea of just lynching everyone the second they are convicted--but, if this does start happening . . . you first.
So they couldn't find relatives for a lot of the victims. SO WHAT? Out of 25 people, even a handful who had family should justify a long enough sentence that would end with him dying behind bars!
They mentioned it to garner sympathy for the victims not the murderer, nor did they mean it in a way that meant he should be let go. Even if there were no relatives of any of them they would never let something like him out.
Lets hope not, he got 25 life terms, that should not even hint at parole. Sick physically, should not be an excuse for parole whether he's 25 or 77. He should do his 25 life terms.
Since California won't execute the SOB, maybe they should put him and Manson in the same cell, just to have something for the other cons to wager on.
Only California would even comte,plate allowing this monster to go free! Amazing what the leftist idiots in California can come up with! First, this guy should have been executed! However, a death sentence in California assured the criminal of a long, long life subsidized by the taxpayers! Like I said, only California would not have a death penalty at the time of these killings! Oh, don't you just love their forward thinking, cutting edge rehabilitation efforts out there! But, in California you probably won't get a gun to protect yourself! They expect the police to protect you and out there, the police can't even protect themselves! Criminals have more rights out there than honest, law-abiding citizens ever thought about! Jeez, wake up people! Red
Only in America would someone attempt to use a word they not only didn't know how to spell but how to pronounce... It's contemplate. It wasn't just California that didn't have a death penalty then. The entire US didn't during that time.
Only complete madmen (like TX, where guilt & justice isn't the point) would WILLINGLY execute innocent men & women JUST to make certain they kill a few sociopaths along the way
If the bleeding hearts do make the foolish mistake of letting him out I do not want one of my sons or daughters to be the reason he goes back to prison! Also if they are going to release animals like this on society then lighten up on the gun laws so law abiding citizens can at least have a fair chance.
Appropriate screen name- -"Red." It's quite easy to see that you know nothing whatsoever of California's criminal justice system. In fact, Mr. Corona will not be released on parole, but the law requires that we review him every few years. It will no doubt be another 10 years before his next review. Additionally, you should check out our parole-release record. I think I can safely say that no matter which "red" state you are from, your state releases more life-prisoners on parole every year than California. We keep inmates senteced to "life" in prison for longer periods of time than any other state in the US.
What a doof. No state had a death penalty in 1973. They were suspended in the US from 1972 to 1976. Resumed in 1977 with Gilmore. Learn some history.
Maybe some people should practice what they preach. While no state had the death penalty in 1973, the article clearly states his conviction in '73 was overturned, he was retried, and reconvicted in 1982. The death penalty was back on the books and available then but wasn't applied to this case - and it should have been.
Tell me you are not this stupid. The application of sentencing applies to when the crime(s) were committed. Not when the conviction was obtained.
In a thread filled with retarded people, Redneckerson might be the Queen of Tards.
What part of 'life sentence' would make this man eligible for release ever? He needs to stay in prison until his own death. So, he's old and sick -- what would happen if he were released? He's likely incapable of caring for himself. Leave him in prison.
Why is parole even on the table? There are those that died for killing just one person.
Don't care what kind of mental illness he has now, as that is not the point. The point is he live in jail until DEATH at what every form it should take.
Release him and what? Deport him to Mexico, or turn him loose in Fresno so he can again declare, "They were all ready to go to the next world" again? This is as bad as wanting to release Hinckley, Reagan's shooter. When in the history of the world is a person who attempts to, or murders a countries leader get a hope to be released to 'his parents?' Only Hinckley, cause his parents are 'close' friends of the Bush's. Hmmm...... If you ever get a chance, checkout the arrest scenes of the last three assassins. Their behavior, Oswald, Sirhan and Hinckley is EXACTLY the same during the arrest. They all look like they woke up from a deep sleep, the similarities are too exact to be coincidental, it's like a repeat from 'somebody's' playbook..... Shrub, Sr's CIA...... That family, along with Barbara's, has caused more damage to the reputation of the USA then any other in history. They were prosecuted and convicted during the Nuremburg Trials. The CIA is a replica of the SS. They have attempted to rewrite history with their Education First corporation, you know, the company that supplies ALL of our schools with the No Child Left Behind required materials. Voted the most inaccurate and misleading education material ever foisted on the children of America. Disgraceful.
So you think that George Bush is responsible for the deaths of all of those folks who were assassinated by the people you named? I don't trust government one bit but that theory is really out there. Look into my eyes.... You are getting very sleepy......
The state will probably release him because they don't want the expense of taking care of him. He will then be free to murder more innocent people. Isn't America great?
Don't you mean "isn't (California) great?"
What an idiot statement...you live in TEXAS right? Stay there, we have enough stupid people already!
LOL, I like how the description of the photo says undated when it clearly shows the date 11/05/06 in the photo.
Why is it that this monster is even up for parole ? Why is it this freak is still alive ? I believe that if you take some ones LIFE from them your life should be taken as well , and it should be done the same way that you did it ! So if you kill some one by stabbing them to death that should be how you are put to death . This BS of lethal injection is just no way to put a sick freak like this to death ! And Parole ? You have got to be kidding me right ! the 25 people this @!$%# murdered are dead he is still alive ? What is wrong with this picture ?
@trickson
What?! So you think we should have trained "professionals" to off the sick whack-jobs using the same horrific method they used on their victims?! There's already far too much violence in our society now. Your suggestion is as sick as the people who perpetrate the crimes to begin with!
Only in Califormnia where just the gang bangers and criminals can have guns and mass murderers are set free. When is Charlie Manson eligible? Poor misunderstood guy.
He has been up for parole multiple times.
Why the hell is this guy alive- He should have been executed 30 years ago. Huge waste of taxpayers money keeping this murderer alive.
If this person told me that his victims were all ready to leave this world then we should be more than glad to tell him that he should ready himself for the same experience.
25 murders and walks after 40 years. That's 1.6 years per death. No parole, no release, no forgiveness granted. End of his story.
If this individual is paroled, the whole parole board should be lined up and shot. This man should have been executed years ago. It would have been a whole lot cheaper than incarcerating him all these years.
@lilrkt: You must be a prison official of some kind, or closely related. You are certainly right about California locking up and throwing the key away. It's only one of the numerous reasons California is bankrupt. The criminal situation is not so simple a matter, is it?
Do you suppose California's criminal justice industry will remain the same after Mexico annexes it? Wouldn't it be better just to build a high wall around the whole state, man it with armed guards, move the few non-criminals out and then use that state as a penal colony for all the states? This way the criminals could just devour one another.
It's one thing to shoot a person to death, but to stab someone and then hack his skull open ....? I don't even know how sick or cruel one would have to be to do that. This man needs to left in prison with only the miminal humane care. I'm so tired of criminals receiving more rights and preferential treatment than victims and the members of their families.
Don't forget free health care...
Another testament to liberal insanity.
...and the dozens of ppl on death row freed by DNA evidence is what kind of testament to CONservative dogma?
You just couldn't resist making this about politics could you? Because if I'm liberal on tax policy or trade policy then I obviously also must be liberal about penal policy?
Don't be an idiot, think before you type. Your desire to inject politics INTO EVERYTHING is why the country is going down the @!$%#ter.
It is political, doofus.
So because he is clinically crazy, they want to release him? Did they not think he was crazy when they found 25 chopped up human bodies in his back yard? He is the perfect argument for the validity of the death penalty.
Seriously he shouldn't have ever been considered for parole death penalty or not. I mean the amount of victims and heinous way they suffered should stand for itself. The sad fact that there are no relatives to speak for these victims shouldn't play any part on him being allowed parole. He is either so evil or very sick or both. I mean how can California allow this injustice to slip under the cracks it is just horrendous.
you misinterpret - the law provides for parole hearings for all sentenced to other than "no possibility of parole". Blame California for following their law, if you must