Carson murderer denied parole again

Robert Gonzales will serve at least three more years in prison after the parole board decided to again deny him release.

Gonzales, 71, stabbed his estranged wife Constance to death in May 1985 in the parking lot of a Carson City doctor's office. He did it in front of the couple's teenage daughter.

He was in Truckee Meadows Hospital receiving psychiatric treatment when he was served with a restraining order and divorce papers. His reaction was to check out of the hospital, track the victim down and kill her.

Testimony during his trial indicated he had a history of abuse, not only of his wife but in a previous relationship.

Gonzales was originally sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. The Nevada Pardons Board commuted his sentence to allow the possibility of parole in November 2006.

At his first hearing in January 2007, parole board members questioned whether Gonzales had learned to control his temper. He told them then he had reformed his life, has an excellent conduct record in prison and had become an ordained Baptist minister.

But member Connie Bisbee pointed out at that first hearing that, in prison, "there aren't any women and children to abuse here."

He was denied parole at that time but granted a second hearing two weeks ago.

The decision was the same at the Oct. 2 hearing. This time, Gonzales was denied for at least three more years.

As reasons for the denial, the board listed the impact on the victim's family and the community and "the extreme and abnormal aspects of the crime."

He will be eligible for another hearing in January 2013.