Santa Rosa: Woman Convicted Of Killing Man While Driving Drunk Denied Parole

Bay City News

A woman who was sentenced to 15-years-to-life in prison for driving drunk and high and killing a man in Santa Rosa in 2012 has been denied parole, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said Friday.

Heather Howell, 41, was denied parole on Thursday after a hearing in front of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Board of Parole-- the second time she has gone before the parole board.

Howell was drunk and high on cocaine on July of 2012 when she got into an argument with her boyfriend and pursued him on a high-speed chase through the streets of Santa Rosa in the Piner High School area. According to prosecutors, the chase ended on Hall Road when Howell slammed into the back of a convertible Triumph being driven by Jesse Garcia, 56, of Santa Rosa.

Garcia's car became engulfed in flames and he died while trapped under it, the District Attorney's Office said.

In 2014, Howell was convicted by a jury of murder, reckless driving causing great bodily injury, and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, with a prior DUI conviction.

The parole board issued a 3-year denial this time, finding Howell would "continue to pose an unreasonable risk of danger to the community if released," prosecutors said.

"After 13 years behind bars, Howell has demonstrated that despite a plethora of rehabilitative programs in prison, she continues to pose an unreasonable risk of harm to the public," said District Attorney Carla Rodriguez in a statement released by her office. "As such, we support the Board's denial of parole."

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