Parole Board agrees to release Ernest DiGennero

Nevada Parole Board Chairman Tom Patton said Monday that DiGennero, 46, will be freed once a release plan to California is approved, in about a month.

DiGennero had made nine appearances before the board since his conviction in 1982, including seven before he finally got a parole from his life sentence for murder in 1995.

DiGennero then began serving time on an 8-year sentence imposed for two attempted murder convictions, and won his release after two more appearances before the board.

"This has been a difficult case," said Patton. "Every time the board considered this case, which was a very serious and tragic one, we got much input both for and against a parole."

DiGennero, outside a Sparks bar in May 1981, got into an argument that escalated into a highway chase. The other vehicle went out of control and crashed into the pillar, killing one man and injuring two others.

archive