Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/01/06

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Charles Arden

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DOUBLE MURDERER DENIED PAROLE

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that convicted murderer Lewis Knights was denied parole by the Board of Prison Terms. Knights was convicted of two counts of First Degree Murder for the killings of Rebekah Mathison, age 26 and her daughter Shaunicy Mathison, age 4 in their El Verano home on September 23, 1977.

Knights went to the Mathison home after Rebekah’s husband left for work. Knights entered the house and attempted to sexually assault Rebekah. He struck her in the head with an iron frying pan and slit her throat. He also struck Shaunicy in the head, killing her. Rebekah was found face down, bound at the ankles and bloodied. Shaunicy was found face down in a bathtub filled with water. The cast iron frying pan was found in pieces. Knights fled and was later located in Humbolt County after being arrested for the attempted kidnaping of another woman.

Knights refused to attend his parole hearing at Corcoran State Prison last week. The members of the Board of Prison Terms agreed with Deputy District Attorney Charles Arden that Knights poses an extremely high risk of harm to the community if released. The District Attorney also argued that these murders were carried out in a cruel manner with disregard for human suffering.

The board denied parole and Knights will not have another parole hearing for the next five years.