The woman convicted in the murder of her husband in the early 1990s has been released from prison.
The state parole board granted Laurie Kellogg parole last month.
Spectrum News has confirmed that Kellogg was released Monday from the Taconic Correctional Facility.
Kellogg was convicted in 1992 on murder charges. Police say she drove four teenagers from Pennsylvania to a cottage in the Seneca County town of Romulus, where one of the teens shot and killed her husband, Bruce Kellogg, in his sleep.
That teen was Denver McDowell, who pleaded guilty when he was 17 years old and testified against Kellogg. He was sentenced to 50 years to life, which was later reduced to 25 to life.
Kellogg claimed she had been abused by Kellogg, but never meant for him to be killed. The jury still found her guilty of second degree murder for masterminding the crime.
Officials from the parole board said Kellogg's conduct in prison shows she's low risk and has shown remorse for her actions.
In August 2018, New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron issued a judgment against the New York State Board of Parole, stating in part:
“Any further time would be cruel, if not unusual, punishment. As a matter of law, petitioner has served her sentence and is entitled to be released. The only appropriate remedy is to order the Parole Board to grant petitioner parole.”
In this paperwork, Judge Engoron also stated that the 25 years to life must mean something. He said if Kellogg – a pristine prisoner, in his words – was not released, the 25 years is meaningless.
Here is what Kellogg had in her defense:
- A psychological report at the time of her trial alleging she was a battered woman.
- Documentation of an “impeccable record while incarcerated.”
- Evidence of a Risk Assessment stating she is at the “Lowest Risk Level” of future trouble with the law.
- Evidence of support, housing, and job opportunities following release.
At one point, depending on who was asked, Kellogg was described as an innocent battered victim on one hand or manipulating cold-blooded killed on the other.
However, now, she's a free woman, living a civilian life.