Petitions circulating to deny parole for Michelle Vinson

By Rose Hooper

Now at age 28, Vinson was convicted as a youthful offender, and by state law her case must be reviewed annually by the N.C. Parole Commission. Imprisoned since 1995, she has been denied parole each year.

The victim's mother, Geraldine Queen of Tuckasegee, is circulating the petitions to block Vinson's parole again this year.

"Michelle's hearing is set for Valentine's Day, Feb. 14," said Queen, who has placed petitions at Cope's Superette in Sylva, Top Cats on U.S. 441 and the staffed recycling center in Cashiers.

"The petition simply asks that Michelle not be given any special treatment or parole, but that she serve her full sentence given by the court," Queen said.

Vinson remains at the N.C. Correctional Institute for Women and has a projected release date of July 24, 2004. Vinson pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and four counts each of breaking and entering and larceny. She was sentenced to 10 years for murder, 15 years for kidnapping and five years probation.

Six others were convicted in the death of Queen, who died of suffocation while locked in a closet of a Cullowhee trailer.

Two other committed youthful offenders, Michael Blain Hagedorn, 24, and Robert Trantham, 26, have been released from prison. However, Trantham, who was released Dec. 27, 2001, returned to prison recently after being sentenced to 10 years for violating his parole.

Receiving life sentences in Queen's death were Carolton Anderson, Vickie Jumper Fox, Kenneth Fox and Walter Thomas York.

Back to Archive: 01/23/03.