Woman Addresses Parole Board In OKC About Mother's Killer

A woman whose mother was murdered nearly 30 years ago gets disappointing news from the Pardon and Parole Board.

Linda Zambrano drove all the way from Houston to see if she could address her mother's killer at his parole hearing, only to be told she couldn't. Linda did, however, get to address the Pardon and Parole Board.

Linda was 11 years old in 1984 when her mother, Regina Rutledge, was brutally raped and murdered. The killer is James Ables Jr., a man with whom she worked with at an Oklahoma City apartment complex.

"I have moved on," said Zambrano. "It has taken me many years, but I have moved on and I believe being here is a way to help him and if he's not ready for that, that's his decision."

The board chairman says policy and safety concerns are the reasons victim's family members are not allowed to address prisoners at their parole hearings.