Man who killed Opry, 'Hee Haw' star Stringbean granted parole

WKRN-TV Nashville ^ | Oct. 15, 2014 | None Listed

[JennysCool]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -

The man who killed "Hee Haw" star and Grand Ole Opry performer David "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife, Estelle, four decades ago has been granted parole.

Melissa McDonald with the Tennessee Board of Parole told News 2 the board voted Wednesday morning to grant John Brown parole.

Brown has served 40 years of his 198-year sentence for killing the Akemans in 1973 as they returned to their home following a performance at the Opry.

[Impala64ssa]

[Buckeye McFrog]

Local TV stations quit hiring people who spoke English years ago. They only hire blondes now.

[Forgotten Amendments]

Can’t understand why he is being released.

I wouldn't call 40 years served a "slap on the wrist".

Refreshing to read an old case that the cops actually got right.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I like your parole board best.

[SpaceBar]

In my youth, I would have considered having to watch Hee-Haw a form of torture, along with Lawrence Welk. Led Zepplin was “the sound” back then.

[arderkrag]

This is the murder Grandpa Jones discovered:

A resident of rural Ridgetop, Tennessee outside of Nashville, he was a neighbor and friend of fellow musician David "Stringbean" Akeman. On the morning of November 11, 1973, Jones discovered the bodies of Akeman and his wife, who had been murdered during the night by robbers. Jones testified at the trial of the killers, his testimony helping to secure a conviction. He identified a firearm found in their possession as one he had given to Akeman.

Source

[Buckeye McFrog]

The fact they happened 40 years ago doesn’t make them any less brutal. The fact that most people don’t remember them or weren’t alive at the time does not justify doing this.

[JOAT]

This is a textbook case for capital punishment.

The slug gets 198 years, but some disconnected future generation lets him out after 40.

He still has 158 more years to serve since they didn't send him to the chair like they should have when he was convicted.

[dfwgator]

Punk rock girl give me a chance
Punk rock girl let’s go slamdance
We’ll dress like Minnie Pearl
Just you and me punk rock girl

[Christie at the beach]

I agree with the others that the patrol board should be ashamed

and the murderer should be put to death.

[Impala64ssa]

At least his accomplice Marvin Brown was denied parole by a Higher Authority.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I was never a Hee-Haw fan in my youth either.

Strangely though I find a comforting nostalgia now watching the reruns on RFD-TV.

“You’ll never hear one of us repeating gossip, so you’d better be sure and listen close the first time!” LOL!

[ican'tbelieveit]

This is why life sentences don’t work. You get a feel good liberal in there.

I wonder how those that sentenced him to 198 years feel about this. They probably felt they were making sure he would never feel the free air again.

[WayneS]

...and he never found the money.

[vladimir998]

That stash was discovered only many years after his death too.

“In 1996, 23 years after the murders, $20,000 in paper money was discovered behind a chimney brick in Stringbean’s home. The money had deteriorated to such an extent that it was not usable and had to be turned in to a bank.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_%22Stringbean%22_Akeman

[WayneS]

Neither can I.

[Red Badger]

And Buck Owens as well...........

[TexasCajun]

At the time, the Hee Haw girls were the sexiest woman on TV.

[Gamecock]

Same here.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Barbie Benton was a bit of allright.

Laz would hit it. And Hef did.