Gaile Owens granted parole

Gaile Owens

Gaile Owens will be released on parole after the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole voted to free her after a quarter-century in prison, according to Tennessee Department of Correction records.

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen said Gaile Owens has been given a second chance now that the state has granted her parole.

Bredesen commuted Owens' death sentence to life in prison in July 2010 and today four members of the seven-member Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole agreed she should be released early.

“I certainly hope that she gets her life together now,'' Bredesen said.

Owens' son Stephen Owens said today was a "beautiful day.''

"I am grateful to the parole board for granting parole to my mother, Gaile Owens, after 26 years in prison. One year ago today was the date that Mom was to be executed had Gov. Phil Bredesen not commuted her sentence. I will always be grateful to Gov. Bredesen, to my mother’s legal team, and to the thousands of friends and strangers who have rallied behind my mom and our family,'' Stephen Owens said in a prepared statement released today.

Owens will not be released immediately, said Melissa McDonald, spokeswoman for the parole board.

"The next step in the process is for her release plan to be approved. After that, there is some administrative paper work that must be done. Her release will probably take place in the next 1 to 3 weeks, although I cannot give you an exact date now.

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Source: The Tennessean, Sept. 28, 2011

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