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'Onion Field' Killer Dies in California Prison
ABC News ^ | 13 Aug 2012 | LINDA DEUTSCH

Posted on 08/14/2012 5:58:59 AM PDT by smokingfrog

Gregory Powell, who was convicted of killing a Los Angeles police officer during an infamous kidnapping that inspired the true crime book and movie "The Onion Field," has died in prison at age 79, authorities said Monday.

Powell died late Sunday in a hospice at the California Medical Facility, a men's prison in the Northern California city of Vacaville, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Powell spent nearly 50 years behind bars and was denied release several times, including last year when he told a parole board he was dying and wanted to spend his last days outside prison.

"I've done enough time," he said. "I'm a different man, and I'm ready to be paroled."

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Alexis De la Garza argued for Powell's continued incarceration, saying Powell committed "a cold, deliberate crime."

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: copkiller; deathpenalty; hospice; leo; onionfield; powell; smith
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good riddance
1 posted on 08/14/2012 5:59:13 AM PDT by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog

Hopefully he died from repeated penetration from hiss cellmate


2 posted on 08/14/2012 6:08:59 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: smokingfrog

“I’ve done enough time,” he said. “I’m a different man, and I’m ready to be paroled.”


Not nearly enough time buddy. In your case, life really IS too short.


3 posted on 08/14/2012 6:13:08 AM PDT by rbg81
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To: Vaquero

“Nearly fifty years...” What a complete waste of taxpayer money when a simple .22LR would have sufficed.


4 posted on 08/14/2012 6:13:37 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: smokingfrog

Powell spent nearly 50 years behind bars....

How did he make it that long? Didn’t anyone get the memo to off this guy and save us tax dollars? Geez. No wonder California is going under.


5 posted on 08/14/2012 6:13:56 AM PDT by oust the louse (Obamacare has morphed into a tax on staying alive.)
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To: smokingfrog

The Onion Field was my favorite of Wambaugh’s books.


6 posted on 08/14/2012 6:24:47 AM PDT by traderrob6
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To: hal ogen

Mt thoughts exactly...California prisons some of the most co$tly in the country. A medical facility more so. Best guess? Avg. $50-60K per annum


7 posted on 08/14/2012 6:41:20 AM PDT by donozark (I never trusted anyone above the rank of Corporal, including myself.)
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To: traderrob6

It’s a good movie, too. The movie put James Woods on the map.


8 posted on 08/14/2012 6:45:39 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: smokingfrog

Does any one else see an elderly Sean Penn in this guys face!!


9 posted on 08/14/2012 6:48:31 AM PDT by ontap
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To: Vaquero

GREAT NEWS! ROT IN HELL KILLER!


10 posted on 08/14/2012 6:50:32 AM PDT by angcat (Without Valor there is no hope.)
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To: rbg81
Not nearly enough time buddy. In your case, life really IS too short.

Far too much time, considering Powell was originally sentenced to death and had his sentence commuted to life as a result of the California v. Anderson decision. On the other hand, this being California, had the death penalty stood then he'd only be about half way through his appeal process now.

11 posted on 08/14/2012 7:00:50 AM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
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To: ontap

Wow, very astute observation. He could be his father.


12 posted on 08/14/2012 7:15:36 AM PDT by I_be_tc
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To: ontap

I was thinking a thinner Drew Peterson.... but I think you’re right.


13 posted on 08/14/2012 7:20:58 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: ontap

There IS a resemblance.


14 posted on 08/14/2012 7:26:00 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog

His pitiful life was about 50 years longer than Officer Campbells.


15 posted on 08/14/2012 7:30:35 AM PDT by Seabeejas (h)
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To: smokingfrog

The cold blooded murder took place in 1963.... this wasted piece of flesh should have never been allowed to have lived so long.


16 posted on 08/14/2012 8:02:43 AM PDT by Gator113 (***YOU GAVE it to Obama. I would have voted for NEWT.~Just livin' life, my way~)
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To: hal ogen

Only one bone to pick with you. A bee bee gun would be much more fitting. It might take days...

Almost fifty years...

Man, we need to pull our collective heads our of our posteriors and get this nation back on track.

Lefties, we have had our fill!


17 posted on 08/14/2012 9:37:53 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Nope 2012)
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To: smokingfrog

Roast in Hell


18 posted on 08/14/2012 9:43:44 AM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: hal ogen

yea, that’s what i think, although i am partial to a public hanging.

why would we want to pay to house and feed and give a murderer health care benefits for 50 years when it would be cheaper to dig a hole.

blessings, bobo


19 posted on 08/14/2012 5:06:51 PM PDT by bobo1
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To: hal ogen

You think an SR would bounce off the skull?


20 posted on 08/14/2012 5:09:18 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Demoralization is a weapon of the enemy. Don't get it, don't spread it!)
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