Defendant In 1994 Napa Murder Of Ex-Wife Paroled

NAPA COUNTY, CA — A California state parole board has decided to grant parole for a man convicted in the 1994 murder of his ex-wife, the Napa County District Attorney's Office said Friday. District Attorney Allison Haley says she has asked Gov. Jerry Brown to review the decision to parole Jerre Allen, now 75 years old, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the Sept. 19, 1994 killing of his wife, Barbara Diann Allen.

According to the DA's office, Jerre Allen had been divorced from Diann Allen for four years but never accepted their separation, and on the day of her death, he armed himself with two guns and went to her house on the pretense of discussing an issue involving their children. He demanded that she reconcile with him. When she refused, he shot her in the chest at very close range. He stated that his intention was to kill her then kill himself; however he did not follow through with the suicide.

Allen was sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison for the murder, plus five additional years for the gun
enhancement. He first became eligible for parole in 2014 and parole was granted at that time, but Gov. Brown reversed that decision and Allen remained in prison, Haley said.

At Allen's August parole hearing at Mule Creek State prison, Napa County Deputy District Attorney Holly Quate was present with the victim’s daughter and argued against the release.

Quate cited "the cruelty and callousness of the murder, the fact that he continued to minimize his responsibility when explaining how he murdered Diann, and his continued lack of insight in to the killing," Haley said. "She argued that Allen continues to represent an unreasonable risk of danger to community should he be released."

The victim’s daughter emphasized the permanence of her loss and the devastation the murder caused for herself, her brother, and Diann’s siblings.

"There’s no parole for my mother," she said.

Diann’s sister, Lynn McCoy, echoed that sentiment, saying "nor for any of Diann’s family."

The parole board pointed out that at 75 years old, he is past the age of recidivism. It noted that he has been entirely discipline free while in prison, and it felt that he demonstrated adequate insight into the killing.

Allen plans to parole to Sacramento, Haley said.

In the meantime, Haley said the decision will be reviewed by the board of parole hearings. Haley has also urged the governor to review the case.

Haley noted that since 2009, a variety of programs have been instituted to reduce prison populations, including medical parole, compassionate relief and elder parole. Inmates who have attained at least 60 years of age and have served 25 years of their sentence can receive an elderly parole hearing where special consideration is given to inmates’ advanced age, long-term confinement, and diminished physical condition.

"Inmates are eligible even on serious, violent sex crimes and murders," Haley said. "This is of great concern to victims in these cases ... Victims and their families don’t deserve to be devastated twice; first, by the crimes committed by the offender and second, by a system that fails to take into account the effects those crimes have on those left behind."

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