Nikki Thrasher was murdered by recently released Kyle Hedquist in 1994. He convinced her into driving to a remote location in Douglas County where he proceed to execute her. Over the objections of Douglas County DA, Richard Wesenburg, the Governor decided to release Hedquist to live in Marion County. In addition to the life sentence for murder, he was also serving 80 months for robbery and kidnapping. “The Governor is making a habit of releasing violent criminals back into Marion County,” said Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer). “The families of Headquist’s victims were promised by our justice system that this man would be in prison for life. But the Governor has single-handedly reneged on that promise. This week is Crime Victims Rights’ Week. I cannot think of a worse way to honor those who have been impacted by crime than releasing their offenders from prison. These decisions are dangerous, and the legislature must respond to this overreach by passing common-sense oversite reforms. No one person should have all this power.”
Governor-Commutes-Sentence-of-Brutal-Aggravated-Murderer
