Keep Vicious Killers in Prison

By the News-Register
a In 1967, Eugene Blake used his car to force one driven by an 18-year-old Wayne County woman off the road. He stabbed her eight times; she died of her injuries. Blake was arrested and convicted of murdering her. He was sentenced to a term of life in prison, with no possibility of parole.

In 1979, Blake walked out of the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, a free man. He went on to rape and kill a 13-year-old girl in Wheeling and, according to Ohio authorities, a 21-year-old Lansing man.

How was it that Blake, convicted of a brutal murder and told he would be in prison for the rest of his life, was freed to kill again?

As a story by reporter Fred Connors on page one of today’s newspaper outlines, Blake gained the trust of so many people that his sentence was commuted, making him eligible for parole. In 1979, his parole was approved and a man the state Board of Probation and Parole warned was a threat to society was set free.

Blake’s story is an exceedingly disturbing one. He seemed to lead a charmed existence — because of his ability to charm those with whom he came in contact. Scores of people, some influential citizens, signed petitions and wrote letters in support of commuting his sentence. After agreeing with the Board of Probation and Parole for several years that Blake deserved no commutation, then-Gov. Arch Moore finally bowed to an intensive campaign by Blake’s supporters, and signed papers that cleared the way for the murderer to be set free.

Even before that, however, Blake was a favored inmate. He was permitted to work — and live — outside the walls of the main prison. He was allowed to travel, even to take part in dramatic productions in Wheeling. During that period of relative freedom, he befriended many of those who supported his bid for freedom.

Why did so many people, including some in positions of authority, ignore Blake’s history and place their trust in him — allowing him to commit at least one, probably two additional murders? That is a question that needs to be investigated. Answers need to be found. While it is too late to save those victimized because Blake misled so many people, it needs to be remembered that other vicious murderers are behind bars — looking for ways to get out.

Blake’s case needs to be investigated thoroughly and objectively, simply to protect society from copycats. Rest assured, some of those behind bars for brutal crimes know about Blake’s success — and will attempt to do precisely what he did. The terrible mistake made by so many in regard to Blake should not be allowed to repeat itself.