VACAVILLE — The state”s Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for convicted killer Edward Keefe Crawford on Tuesday.
Richard Hinchcliff, chief deputy district attorney for Lake County, attended the hearing at California State Prison, Solano to argue against Crawford”s release on the basis that the 53-year-old inmate still presented a risk to public safety.
Board commissioners denied Crawford parole for at least 10 years, according to Hinchcliff.
A jury found Crawford guilty of first-degree murder in the late-1980s and a Lake County judge sentenced him to 27 years to life in prison, according to Hinchcliff.
The incident occurred Sept. 19, 1987 when Crawford and his co-defendant, Jon Christ, took the victim, Glenn Shoemaker, for a boat ride on Clear Lake and stopped in a secluded shoreline area, Hinchcliff said citing investigation reports.
When the three men got out of the boat, Shoemaker was shot six times, including twice in the back, with a .22-caliber handgun, Hinchcliff said. The body was reportedly discovered 11 days later.
Christ was also convicted murder and sentenced to 31 years to life, according to Hinchcliff.
The alleged reason for the killing changed over the years, Hinchcliff said.
At the time of the investigation, the motive was reported as Christ was upset that Shoemaker previously stole the .22-caliber handgun, Hinchcliff said.
Crawford reportedly admitted to shooting the man but claimed it was an accident because Christ told him the gun wasn”t loaded, according to Hinchcliff. Crawford said Christ then shot the victim four more times, Hinchcliff added.
Among the versions subsequently described by Crawford was a 1991 account in which he said he shot the victim because the victim molested his child, Hinchcliff said. The prisoner made a similar claim about four months ago, saying the victim molested his neighbor”s children, Hinchcliff added.
During Tuesday”s hearing, Crawford admitted the victim was never proven to be a child molester, according to Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff also said Crawford hasn”t made any efforts to address his alcohol, anger or drug issues in his nearly 25 years in prison.
Crawford”s will next be eligible for parole in 2022. Tuesday marked his second parole hearing.
