Crime & Safety
Parole Granted For 1988 Fairfield Murder Defendant
BREAKING: Todd Graham, convicted of the murder and robbery of 84-year-old Audrey Hignight outside a local market, is now 68 years old.
SOLANO COUNTY, CA -- The state Board of Parole Hearings on Tuesday approved the release of a convicted murderer whose elderly victim in Fairfield died a week after she was assaulted in 1988, Solano County prosecutors said Thursday. Todd Graham robbed and assaulted Audrey Hignight, 84, outside a Fairfield market on May 8, 1988. Witnesses said Graham kicked and punched Hignight as he was trying to get her purse and left her laying on the ground, according to the district attorney's office.
A man and his son who saw the assault chased Graham and with the help of another witness detained him until police arrived, prosecutors said.
Hignight told police Graham pushed her hard enough to kill her.
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She was diagnosed with a broken hip and developed pneumonia in the hospital, where she died on May 15, 1988, prosecutors said.
Graham admitted he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and stole the purse to get money for more, according to the district attorney's office. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery and
was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Nov. 9, 1988.
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He was denied parole three times but was eligible now for special parole consideration under the elderly parole program based on his current age of 68 and his length of incarceration, prosecutors said.
Solano County Deputy District Attorney William Ainsworth opposed Graham's release. Ainsworth argued Graham was a risk to public safety, lacked substance abuse treatment in prison, sufficient insight into the nature and causes of the calculated nature of the crime and the skills to avoid recidivism when released.
Graham testified at his hearing and the Board of Parole Hearings granted parole.
The board cited Graham's minimal prior criminality and lack of serious misconduct while in prison, his sobriety during 29 years in prison, and his age and his diminishing and unreasonable potential risk to society, according to the district attorney's office.
By Bay City News Service
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