Parole denied in 1982 Richland County murder

By: Associated Press//July 20, 2011//

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state review board has denied parole for a woman convicted of stabbing a 76-year-old storekeeper more than 50 times during a robbery in 1982.

Bonita “Bonnie” L. Smith, now 63, was 34-years-old when she and James Willison, then 20, were sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years in the slaying of Leona Milfred in her Richland County grocery store.

Milfred’s son, 71-year-old Terry, of Rio, and others lobbied to keep Smith behind bars at the hearing Tuesday. He said she committed a “horrible, thrill-seeking crime,” still hasn’t taken full responsibility and tried to evade punishment by telling conflicting stories.

The State Journal reports she has been held in minimum security custody for three years. Her next parole review is in about a year.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj

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