Killer of Marin ranger in 1973 to be released

Marin Independent Journal ^ | 2/8/05 | Mark Prado

[Citizen James]

A former Black Panther convicted of murdering a Point Reyes National Seashore ranger 31 years ago is set to be released from prison in two weeks, raising the ire of law enforcement officers.

Ranger Kenneth Patrick was the first U.S. park ranger murdered in the line of duty when he was shot by deer poachers in the Point Reyes National Seashore in August 1973.

Veronza Bowers was convicted of the murder in April 1974. Bowers and two other men went to Point Reyes to hunt deer with a crossbow and when Patrick, 40, shined his flashlight into their car, he was shot by Bowers three times with a 9-millimeter Spanish Astra handgun, according to court records.

Patrick's body was found on a fog-shrouded Mount Vision Road early on the morning of Aug. 5.

Bowers, 59, was given a life sentence that was later reduced to 30 years. Bowers has served 30 years and 10 months; the U.S. Parole Commission, which had vetoed previous parole dates in 2001 and last April, has approved Bower's release from a Florida federal prison Feb. 21.

"There is a basic moral outrage of having a cop killer back out there," said George Durkee, a ranger at Kings Canyon National Park and a member of the U.S. Park Ranger Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.

The group is alerting people to the Bowers case and is hoping for a review of his release, noting Patrick's family was not notified of the parole hearing. The lodge had planned to appeal to the Department of the Interior yesterday to see if it would lobby against Bowers' release.

Alan Veale and Jonathan Shoher were arrested along with Bowers. Veale later gave a signed confession, naming Bowers as the trigger man and implicating himself and Shoher. Charges against Veale were dropped while Shoher received a 10-year sentence.

A drug dealer also testified that Bowers had told him he had killed Patrick.

During the trial, Bowers' wife testified her husband was not in the park, but at home in bed in the Homestead Valley area of Mill Valley.

Bowers was a captain in the Black Panthers in Richmond, but dropped his membership in the early 1970s because of "political differences," he said, while testifying during his case.

Announcement of the parole caught Point Reyes National Seashore officials by surprise.

"We didn't know anything about this," said John Dell'Osso, park spokesman.

A visitors center in the National Seashore bears Patrick's name in honor of the fallen ranger, who had been on the job for 10 years and was married with three children at the time he was killed.

Bowers has continued to maintain his innocence, according to a Web site run by his supporters.

Monty Levenson, who manages the supporters' Web site, said Bowers has an exemplary record in prison, leads groups in meditation and anger management and works with young people. He said Bowers plans to live with his sister, a federal policewoman, but declined to say where she lives.

"I don't want to minimize the seriousness of the offense," Levenson said. "But this is an extraordinary person trying to do good in the situation that he's in."

[PAR35]

One thing about the story I don't understand. If he has already served almost a full year longer than his sentence, why is the parole board involved at all. Shouldn't he just be cut loose when he's done his time?

sentence that was later reduced to 30 years. Bowers has served 30 years and 10 months;

[drt1]

"I don't want to minimize the seriousness of the offense," Levenson said. "But this is an extraordinary person a murderer trying to do good in the situation that he's in game the system to get out of prison and having success at doing so."

I think this is more accurate.

[Citizen James]

This guy, Veronza Bowers, is a wannabe Mumia. He claims he was a political prisoner. (archive of his now defunct website)

[7.62 x 51mm]

I give him less than 30 days, CJ.

[Aaediil]

I am the father in law of the son of the killed ranger. Take a minute and think if this was your father that was killed for doing his job. We all hear about the hard time that this murderer has had, but what about the life that he left for the victims he knew nothing about, namely my son in law, he had no father to grow up with, he had to live a life none of us wants to think about, and now his fathers killer is granted pardon. If this is justice then I need to look further into the precept of being an american. Please those of you that have the power to help us, please help. If this murderer is allowed to walk on this crime, all I can say is that I hope I am the first one to meet him on the street, that way I can inflict the justice that is mandatory in this situation. Thank you for your time

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Would you be so kind as to convey my very best to your son in law. May God Bless him and his family.

[paul51]

I agree with your sentiments and also feel a life sentence would have been appropriate. As a point of information, he has not received a pardon. He was found guilty and has served the sentence he was given and now is to be released.

[Aaediil]

I understand that there was no pardon. But if this is justice then there is now justice. My daughter and her 2 children are scared for their lives and my son in law, who is now a GA state officer of the law, is wondering why he was not contacted about this hearing. Is this a political scape goat to rectify some political correctness profile. I am at my wits end, please help us as much as you can if you feel the same way we do. We are americans asking for american help. Thank You for your support.

[misanthrope]

Pardon my curiosity Aaedill,
but your tag shows you signing on to Freereoublic tomorrow. I guess you live in Europe? Would you care to explain??

[paul51]

I sympathize with you and your family and of course I would be willing to help how I can. It sounds as though the decision has been made re. his release after serving the sentence. What is it that you feel can be done at this point and how can I help? Calling the authorities and expressing my disgust is a given and I will do that tomorrow. Beyond that, I'm open to other action.

[Aaediil]

I live in GA, I just found out about this situation tonight. When I found out, I did a search and found this website. I signed up and submitted my letters, if you think this is some kind of scam, believe me it is not. Clayton Patrick is my son in law, he married my daughter and they have 2 wonderful children that now live in fear of this monster. Why was the family and the loved ones of this man that was killed in cold blood not informed of this? Is there something we can do? I dont know, all I know is that if you kill an officer of the law, be it a park ranger or a fireman in cold blood you should not be allowed to ever enjoy the freedom that this great country has to offer. I know I am ranting a bit here, but put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Thank You

[Rebelbase]

Next day signups happen all the time in the evenings.

[PAR35]

First, let me express my sympathy to you and your family for your loss.

Whether or not the reduced sentence was just or unjust (on the surface, it sounds like he got the benefit of a liberal judge who modified the original life sentence), I'll stand by my question as to what is going on here. When someone does the full sentence assessed against them, the cell door would normally be opened. Thus, when I saw that he had served over 30 years on a 30 year sentence, I didn't understand why there would even be a hearing before the release. I still don't. I'm not saying that I think that morally he should be out of prison, it was more of a matter of academic interest to me as to what relevant fact I was missing.

One thought does come to mind. Could you still get a state prosecution against the guy for murder? There is no constitutional problem with double jeopardy in successive state and federal prosecutions, although some states do have statutory provisions against a state prosecution following a federal one based on the same facts (Irrelevant to this case, but as a matter of trivia, Georgia is one such state). In addition, the statute of limitations never runs on murder in most jurisdictions. It might be worth a letter to the DA to see what he or she says. There would be significant issues as to 'speedy trial' where the crime and the criminal has been known to state prosecutors for 3 decades and they have not acted.