Cattaraugus Co. leaders call for NYS Board of Parole members to resign

Members of the Cattaraugus County Legislature didn't hold back Wednesday night, lashing out at the New York State Board of Parole for allowing convicted killer Edward Kindt to be released from prison last year.

Kindt served more than 23 years in prison for the rape and murder of Penny Brown in Salamanca in 1999.

He was denied parole several times, but in 2023 his request was granted by the New York State Board of Parole . He became a free man at the age of 39, the same age Brown was when she was killed.

Kindt is now accused of violating his parole by escaping the supervised transitional housing he was placed in. Police took Kindt back into custody around 2 a.m. Wednesday in Salamanca.

7 News received the following statement from NYS DOCCS on the alleged escape.

"On July 16, Edward Kindt made an office report with his Parole Officer in which he was advised to report to the office next on July 23. On July 23, Kindt did not make his scheduled office report and Community Supervision staff’s attempts to locate him at his approved residence, along with other locations, were unsuccessful. While his Parole Officer attempted to locate him in the field, Community Supervision staff simultaneously used data from his GPS device to determine his last known location and issued an absconder warrant, and Office of Special Investigations staff generated a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) and All Points Bulletin (APB) to local law enforcement agencies. Through coordination with local law enforcement, Kindt was arrested in the early morning hours of July 24."

“Kathy Hochul get these dirtbags off the parole board. They should resign in shame,” said Chairman Andrew Burr of the Cattaraugus County Legislature in response to the Kindt case.

Earlier Wednesday, 7 News spoke with State Senator George Borrello and Penny Brown's daughter, Kaitlyn Brown, who both said Kindt never should have been released .

"I was 13-years-old. My mother went missing on Mother's Day of 1999. She went out for a jog and did not come home," an emotional Kaitlyn Brown explained.

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“We’re angry about it," said Undersheriff Eric Butler of Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office. "You know this legislature, the sheriff’s office, we all adamantly oppose his release for a reason — the man is dangerous. He committed a horrible crime in our community and it seems like the state is more interested in his rights and comfort rather than the safety and integrity of our community.”

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“We know that this is a breakdown in the system and it is a breakdown in parole," said NYS Assemblymember Joseph Giglio. "The fact that, again, they did not make an immediate call to where he came from to let them know let them know that he was dangerous and out there. There’s no excuse.”

Kindt is now back in the Dutchess County jail for violating his parole.

"They’re not giving us any further information of what’s next, which is part of what we want to know,” Giglio said.

7 News did reach out to the governor’s office, we were referred to the State Department of Corrections for further comment.

“The immoral derelict parole board that allowed for his release should resign immediately and be accountable to the public for their heinous and irresponsible decision,” Burr said.