COVINGTON, Ky. — A convicted murderer in Kentucky is up for parole, causing distress among the family of the victim and the community. Gregory Wilson was found guilty of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 36-year-old Deborah Pooley in 1988, and sentenced to death. However, in 2019, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin commuted Wilson’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole, sparking outrage among those who knew Pooley and the community.
Family members described Pooley as a loving woman who cherished her family and decided to move to the Greater Cincinnati area to be closer to her parents. Her nieces, Keri and Ami, are greatly troubled by the possibility of Wilson’s release. They are scheduled to speak to the Kentucky Parole Board on Jan. 22 to advocate for keeping Wilson incarcerated.
Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders strongly opposes Wilson’s potential parole, stating that granting parole to Wilson, whom he described as a suspected serial killer, would endanger the lives of women. Pooley’s former manager, Joe Heil, also expressed disbelief that Wilson could be released and plans to speak at the parole hearing to advocate for Wilson’s continued imprisonment.
Ami and Keri have discovered new documents related to the case, including newspaper clippings, a letter their grandparents wrote to a judge, and Pooley’s death certificate. They are urging the community to support their efforts to keep Wilson behind bars by contacting the parole board and participating in a petition to deny Wilson’s release.
The possibility of parole for Gregory Wilson, convicted of the 1988 murder of Deborah Pooley, has stirred strong emotions among the victim’s family and the community in Covington, Kentucky. Family members and community members are actively working to keep Wilson incarcerated, citing concerns about the potential danger to women if he is released.