California murder victim's family speaks out as killer approaches release under elderly parole law

Twice-convicted murderer Walter Joseph Lewis was set to be released on parole under the California Elderly Parole Law.

Lewis, now 76, first stabbed a man to death in 1965, when he was 18 years old and was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the crime. He later killed Robert Chartier in 1979 by beating him to death with a hammer, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told Fox News Digital that Lewis "was found suitable for parole by the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) on Aug. 8, 2023. His case is under review and he remains incarcerated."

The Chartier family has been petitioning the California Board of Parole Hearings to reconsider Lewis' release since 2017.

"On March 14th, 1979 within 6 months of release he killed Robert Chartier (my uncle) by repeatedly hitting him over the head with a hammer because he was jealous of my aunt who he'd know in high school. My uncle died 6 days later," Chartier's nephew, Jason Brock, wrote in a 2017 letter posted to Change.org.

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The Chartier family has been petitioning the California Parole Hearing Board to reconsider Lewis' release since 2017. (Change.org)

"For the murder of my uncle Lewis was only given 15 years to life. This was without a doubt a gross injustice by the judicial system! If released he would most certainly kill again."

Under the state elderly parole law, any convicted criminal over 50 years old who has spent 20 years in prison is eligible for release, according to the CDCR.

Just because an inmate is found suitable for release, however, does not mean they will automatically be released. "All grants of parole are tentative and become final only after a thorough and comprehensive review by the BPH, which can take up to 120 days. Parole decisions that become final are subject to review by the Governor, which takes up to 30 days," the department said.

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One of Chartier's relatives named Karla told FOX 11 her family is in "shock."    

Walter Joseph Lewis was sent to prison for killing Robert Chartier in 1979. (Getty)

"We're just in shock that it's even happening. I can't believe that somebody would approve of this man being released," she told the outlet. "They were violent murders, they weren't self-defense."

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Hundreds of inmates have been granted parole under the law, which the California legislature enacted in 2018, according to FOX 11. The outlet cited California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records when it reported 317 inmates were granted parole in 2020, 360 were granted parole in 2021 and 493 were granted parole in 2022. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the California Board of Parole Hearings and the District Attorney's office.