By Angela Hatton
Murray, KY – The son of a woman killed in a hit and run five years ago is reacting to her killer's early release from prison. A two member panel of the Kentucky Parole Board granted parole to Harrison Yonts after twenty minutes of deliberation Tuesday morning. He was serving time for the 2005 hit-and-run death of 62-year-old Nadia Shaheen. Her Son, Joe Shaheen, chose not to speak for or against Yonts' parole, but says the panel did not weigh the decision properly.
"Not a lot of confidence can be put into a justice system that overturns the decision of a jury of an offender's, uh, peers. I think that the wounds that have been, y'know, healing over the past five years have definitely been reopened."
Yonts served three and a half years, primarily at the Luther Luckett Correctional Facility in LaGrange. A jury originally convicted him of Wanton Murder, and Yonts was to serve 20 years. Former Governor Ernie Fletcher commuted the sentence to eight years. Yonts is the son of State Representative Brent Yonts of Greenville. Shaheen says the family plans to take further action. He says they will release details later this week.