Michigan Parole Board seeking commutation

The Michigan Parole Board is asking for input about the possibility of commuting a Berrien County man's life in prison sentence for murder and armed robbery.

Efran Paredes was 15 when he shot and killed a grocery store manager four times in 1989.

He was sentenced as an adult to life in prison for what prosecutors called a premeditated murder.

The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office issued a statement today asking Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to deny the request.

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Posted by: Michael Location: Saint Joseph, MI on Sep 19, 2008 at 10:50 AM
In regards to physical evidence, it was submitted in court that finger prints were found on the bottom of cash drawers that Efren did not have access to; A large bag of money from the theft was located in the basement ceiling of Efren's home; testimony was given that Efren made a statement to police Sergeant William Tucker that he had nothing to worry about because he was only fifteen years old and "was not going to do no time for this one." Also, if you recall Columbine, copied music lyrics as well as drawings made by Efren were recovered and submitted as evidence that depicted killings. All of this along with a week of testimony lead to a jury convicting Efren of first-degree murder and armed robbery. It worries me that people believe anything they are told regardless of the facts. You should have been at the trial, everyone there in the gallery knew his guilt at the end. I am sad that the Tetzlaff's keep going through this horrific event, none of it will bring Rick back.

Posted by: Cindy Location: East lansing, MI on Sep 18, 2008 at 04:15 PM
The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home with his parents and two brothers when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was sentenced to three life sentences. Efren was arrested at age 15 and is now nearly 35-years-old. Efren has received letters of support from notable scholars and activists across the country including Dr. Carlos Munoz, Jr., Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, author and activist; Dr. Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez, Director, Institute for MultiRacial Justice, author, and activist; Dr. Martha Grace Duncan, Professor of Law, Emory University, and author; Dr. Walter Garcia-Kawamoto, Journal of Adolescent Research, Manuscript Consulting Editor; Favianna Rodriguez, muralist, printmaker, and political activist; Elena Herrada, Director of Centro Obrero, activist, and writer; and others. Efren

Posted by: Michael Location: Saint Joseph, MI on Sep 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM
It angers me to see a person convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery being considered for a parole after he received multiple life sentences from a jury. Even more so when he has exhausted his appeals, in which all of them have resulted in "denied" decisions from higher courts. Most recently, June 30, 2006, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division. This decision goes on to state: "Petitioner (Efran) ignores the fact that there was abundant evidence in addition to Mui's testimony that would prove his identity as the perpetrator beyond a reasonable doubt". He has made his appeals, he has had many years and several attempts to prove his innocence (which he still claims even after every court has disagreed). Let Rick Tetzlaff have justice. Let the Tetzlaff family have the justice they received back in 1989. Let Efran serve out his sentence as defined by the court and passed down from the jury.

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