New York child killer denied parole

January 14, 1998
Web posted at: 8:23 p.m. EST (0123 GMT)

ALBANY, New York (CNN) -- A state parole board Wednesday denied freedom to convicted child murderer Joel Steinberg, saying he would pose a "colossal" risk to the public if he were set free.

The board said Steinberg "continued to disclaim responsibility" for killing his 6-year-old illegally adopted daughter, Lisa, in 1987. The case drew national attention to the problems of domestic violence and the risk of children being adopted by abusive parents.

Steinberg, who is serving an 8 1/3- to 25-year sentence for manslaughter, must wait two years for another hearing. He also failed to win parole the first time he was eligible in January 1996.

Steinberg pleaded for freedom before a parole board panel at Southport Correctional Facility near Elmira on Tuesday. According to a statement released by the board, Steinberg refused to acknowledge having inflicted the beatings that led to Lisa Steinberg's death. He apparently made similar comments in his last application for parole in 1996.

State Attorney General Dennis Vacco praised the board for its decision. "It's appalling that, after spending 10 years in jail, Joel Steinberg continues to deny his role in Lisa's death. It's clear that he has hardly begun to pay the price for his actions," Vacco said.

Vacco recently sponsored an Internet survey to gauge public reaction to Steinberg's parole bid. More than 4,000 New Yorkers responding to the survey demanded that Steinberg be denied parole.

 

Message board:

• Web site fights against parole

Related story:

• Web site fights against possible parole for killer - December 23, 1997

Related sites:

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• Office of the Attorney General, State of New York
  • Comments on Steinberg parole
• New York State Commission of Correction

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