Murderer Aldridge denied release

June 03, 2009 07:23 pm

— NORTH KINGSVILLE — A Monroe Township man convicted of murdering a North Kingsville woman 30 years ago was denied release after a recent Ohio Parole Board meeting, according to reports.
David Aldridge, 49, must wait until March 2014 for another hearing, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Web site. He is serving a life sentence for the June 1979 slaying of Pamela Kay Phillips, 20.
Phillips’ relatives were pleased with the news, delivered late last week.
“That was great,” said Vickie Lee, Phillips’ first cousin and family representative.
The family mustered a campaign that netted more than 500 letters delivered to the parole board, urging no release, Lee said.
“A lot of people from Pamela’s (high school) class made (letter-writing) a class project,” she said. “The Buckeye Board of Education wrote a letter. We’re grateful to everyone who wrote.”
In addition, five family members addressed the board during last month’s hearing, Lee said. Phillips’ sister, living in Arizona, participated via a conference call.
Aldridge was 20 years old when he was convicted of murder, robbery and kidnapping in the case. He entered Ohio’s prison system in December 1979.
Police said Aldridge abducted Phillips from the driveway of her home moments after she was dropped off by a friend. A short time later, occupants of a Middle Road home found Phillips at their front door, bleeding from knife wounds.
Even though Aldridge’s next hearing isn’t for five years, family members will stay vigilant, Lee said.
“We’re going to keep working on it continuously,” she said. “It’s something that needs to be done.”