Convicted murderer Robert Gonzales, who has spent more than 26 years behind bars for the stabbing death of his wife, will ask the state Parole Board on Oct. 10 to release him from prison.
Gonzales, 74, is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife Connie. She was stabbed repeatedly May 3, 1985, in the parking lot of Family Medical Center in front of several witnesses.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of open murder and was originally sentenced to life without possible parole by Carson District Judge Mike Fondi. But the state Pardons Board commuted that sentence in 2007 to allow for the possibility of parole. An initial request for freedom was rejected by the Parole Board in 2009.
Gonzales has no other charges and, if the Parole Board grants his request this time, would be eligible for immediate release.
The victim's sister, Shelly Thodal, said she is looking for some of the witnesses to the slaying to come forward and either testify at the parole hearing or send a letter to the board protesting Gonzales' bid for release from prison.
"I can't relive that day every two years," she said. "I just can't. It takes me a year to get over it."
Thodal asked that any witnesses from the crime contact her at hthodal@yahoo.com.
