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Newport Beach family members say they are terrified that grandmother's murderer could be granted parole
CBS News ^ | May 21, 2026 | Michele Gile

Posted on 05/22/2026 3:15:56 AM PDT by TheDon

A Newport Beach family is living in fear after the man who murdered their grandmother 30 years ago may be considered for parole.

Shannon Wadsworth, the victim's granddaughter, is speaking out, pleading for Gov. Gavin Newsom to block the release.

"I'm terrified. My entire family is terrified," Wadsworth said. "He should not be on the streets; he's not safe. He even said in his parole hearing that he has the possibility to commit this crime again, a crime of sexual nature, and that says it all."

In the 1990's, teenager James Dennis Lynch made headlines after pleading guilty to the brutal rape, robbery and murder of his Stockton neighbor Hilda Boggianno.

Lynch was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison. He's served 30 years, and Wadsworth worries a release could happen at any time.

In an email, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation responded that Lynch is not scheduled for release.

"The Board of Parole Hearings made a preliminary decision on Jan. 15, 2026, regarding this case. A grant of suitability does not mean the automatic release of an incarcerated person," CDCR wrote. Any decision will still go through a comprehensive review.

The convicted killer, according to Wadsworth, qualifies for early parole under the youth offender program.

Adding to her fears, Wadsworth says her personal information was provided as a crime victim, and she was told it was mistakenly passed on to her grandmother's killer.

About a dozen years ago, the letter from Lynch arrived.

"I was hysterical. I had panic attacks. I consulted an attorney. I talked to the warden," Wadsworth said. "The warden stripped-searched him and his cell and found all my information hidden in his mattress."

...

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: ca; california; gavinnewsom; hildaboggianno; jamesdennislynch; michelegile; newportbeach; shannonwadsworth
Execution prevents these types of problems and protects society.
1 posted on 05/22/2026 3:15:56 AM PDT by TheDon
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To: TheDon

Then STOP VOTING IN Dems and ACTIVIST JUDGES. End of worry.


2 posted on 05/22/2026 3:18:34 AM PDT by Singermom
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To: TheDon

“Execution prevents these types of problems and protects society.”

But isn’t society better off when it prevents the execution of one innocent person by the government, in exchange for the likely killing of 100 innocent people by then-released murderers?

(answer: No, but the above is the Leftist claim)


3 posted on 05/22/2026 3:22:02 AM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: TheDon

Find a tall tree
and 'decorate' it...



4 posted on 05/22/2026 3:31:10 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: Carriage Hill

Carry.


5 posted on 05/22/2026 5:51:04 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: TheDon

Capital punishment certainly reduces the chance of recidivism in cases of this type. Bring back public hangings.


6 posted on 05/22/2026 6:03:04 AM PDT by ssapro (SSAPRO/ EXBP)
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To: TheDon
and she was told it was mistakenly passed on to her grandmother's killer.

Gotta love government bureaucracy. They give a killer the address of his victim's granddaughter. If he kills her? Oops. Just another day working for the government.

7 posted on 05/22/2026 6:11:25 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: TheDon

Why? She is dead /liberal


8 posted on 05/22/2026 6:13:02 AM PDT by AppyPappy (They don't call you a Nazi because they think you are one. They do it to justify violence. )
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To: hal ogen

I do, every day.


9 posted on 05/22/2026 7:33:57 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: ssapro

Yep. 30 years sitting in a prison cell gives a convicted inmate peanty of time to plan revenge.


10 posted on 05/22/2026 7:49:16 AM PDT by DownInFlames (P)
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To: DownInFlames

Capital punishment ensures zero recidivism. 😏


11 posted on 05/22/2026 8:56:08 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: TheDon

“I’m terrified. My entire family is terrified,”

If it was my family, the convict would be terrified and begging not to be released.


12 posted on 05/22/2026 9:23:12 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo )
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
Shannon Wadsworth, the victim's granddaughter... says her personal information was provided as a crime victim, and she was told it was mistakenly passed on to her grandmother's killer. About a dozen years ago, the letter from Lynch arrived.

13 posted on 05/22/2026 10:40:46 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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