Board denies parole for Santa Rosa killer Heather Howell

(KRON) -- A Santa Rosa woman who murdered a man in 2012 was denied parole by state prison officials. Heather Anne Howell, 41, is serving a sentence of 15 years-to-life for killing Jesse Garcia.

Howell's request for freedom was denied following a hearing in front of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Board of Parole Hearings on Thursday.

On July 12, 2012, Howell and her boyfriend got into a heated argument. Howell was angry because she discovered that her boyfriend had cheated on her with another woman, according to court documents.

Howell was high on cocaine when she chased her boyfriend's motorcycle for miles around Santa Rosa. The couple's high-speed chase passed by Piner High School.

The chase ended on Hall Road after Howell's Acura coupe slammed into the back of Garcia's classic convertible. "Garcia became trapped under his car when it was engulfed in flames," prosecutors wrote.

Garcia, 56, burned to death at the crash scene, Sonoma County prosecutors said.

Howell was convicted by a jury in 2014 of murder, reckless driving causing great bodily injury, and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. She is currently incarcerated at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Calif., prison inmate records show.

On Thursday, the parole board listened to Howell’s testimony and attorneys' arguments before it issued a three-year denial. Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Masterson, who prosecuted Howell at trial, appeared at the hearing to oppose her release.

The board concluded that Howell would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to the community, prosecutors said.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez 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. As such, we support the board’s denial of parole."