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Man Convicted in 1978 Loring Murders Granted Parole

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, following a hearing, the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole granted parole to Criss Case over the objections of the victims' families and the Phillips County Attorney. Criss Case, together with Ricky Worden, Ronald Allen Worden, and Austin Metcalf murdered Raymond and Dorothy Scheffelmear, and Doris Watkins at the Loring Bar on November 8, 1978.

Originally given what amounted to a life sentence, subsequent changes in the law made him eligible for parole in 1996. Previously, the Board had denied him parole every time he appeared. His last parole hearing was in 2016. Over the years, the Department of Corrections made additional efforts to make him more suitable for parole, including placing him in Great Falls at the pre-release center.

Case has now served approximately 43 years in custody. He's 69 years old. At the hearing, Case seemed in poor health. He said he was recovering from a surgery. Mentally, he struggled to state his age until a prison staff member told him his correct age. Case did not accurately recall what happened in 1978. He did blame Ricky Worden.

Phillips County Attorney Dan O'Brien told the Board that Case pled guilty and that he was sentenced according to the role that he played in committing the murders. Mr. O'Brien argued that Mr. Case did not deserve to be paroled because he murdered three people. Mr. O'Brien reminded the Board that the passing of forty years has not lessened the effect of the crimes or dimmed the memories of the victims' families.

The Board did not give detailed reasons for granting parole to Case. The Board did impose standard conditions of parole and stated that Mr. Case was not allowed to be in Cascade County.

Mr. Case will not be released immediately. Mr. Case will have a supervising officer. If he violates his parole conditions,he may be returned to prison.

Ronald Worden and Austin Metcalf received lesser-length sentences and were paroled or discharged their sentences some time ago. Ricky Worden, like Case, received the longest sentence. Ricky Worden died in prison in August 2021.

 

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