Four more convicts in the infamous Kirtland cult slayings will be paroled this year.
On April 17, 1989, cult leader Jeffrey D. Lundgren and some of his followers killed Dennis and Cheryl Avery and their daughters Trina, 15; Becky, 13; and Karen, 7.
The Ohio Department of Corrections Parole Board released Richard E. Brand on March 29 from his 15-years-to-life sentence in the case. The latest four going free after 1994 convictions are:
- Gregory S. Winship, 50, who is serving 15 years to life in the Allen Correctional Institution, will be parole on Dec. 28 this year.
- Susan Luff, 52, wife of Lundgren's right-hand man Ronald Luff, also will be paroled on Dec. 28 from the Ohio Reformatory for women where she is serving a sentence of seven to 25 years.
- Deborah Olivarez, 58, will be paroled from the Franklin Pre-Release Center at a date not yet set by the state.
- Sharon J. Bluntschly, 52, will be paroled Dec. 28 from the Trumbull Correctional Institution where she is serving a sentence of seven to 25 years.
Bret Vinocur, president of Columbus-based Block Parole Inc. who's opposed about 40 proposed paroles in Ohio, isn't happy.
"It's ridiculous," he said. "These people destroyed or helped destroy an entire family. When three children are killed in cold blood and you're involved, you should never walk out of prison.
"The main killer got death. These other five are getting released? If they served every day of 25 years, they should thank their lucky stars if for those few years after what they did."
Vinocur is using his Web page at www.blockparole.com to mount protests against the upcoming paroles and against Ohio having no listings of where Brand is. The Parole Board web page lists Brand to be supervised for five years in an "interstate compact" between authorities.
After being refused a release three times, Brand won parole the fourth time after victims declined to protest his released.
Working on the Lake County case with then-Prosecutor Steven C. LaTourette, who's now a U.S. House representative, Brand testified against all three Lundgrens and Luff.
Jeffrey Lundgren's wife, Alice, is serving 150 years to life, son Damon 120 years to life and Luff 170 years to life.
