Killer's parole denied, pleasing victim's family

The man who shot their father in 1977 will stay in prison through 2084.

By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 2, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- A brother and sister visited Tallahassee on Wednesday to ensure the man who killed their father will never be released from prison.

The Florida Parole Commission saw to that.

The commission voted unanimously to set a parole date of 2084 for Charles W. Malone Jr., who is serving life for killing St. Petersburg contractor Jesse Wilbur "Woody" Woodward, 41, and Tampa gas station attendant Manuel Tanner, 19, in 1977.

Woodward's daughter. Jill Kuhlman, 38, and son, Wade Woodward, 41, appeared before the commission to ask that it show Malone no leniency in setting a parole date.

Malone could have been paroled as early as next year.

"It was a relief," said Wade Woodward. "We spoke for our father and we did our job. It was important for us to be up here. In the back of my mind, I knew he had little opportunity of getting out."

A parole examiner had recommended that the full commission set a parole date of 2052. But commissioners decided to exceed that because of the heinous nature of the killings.

The commission also noted Malone's long disciplinary history in prison. It will review that parole date in another five years.

"The thing that really touched me was the impact that this was having on the victim's family after all these years," commission chairman Jimmie Henry said. "They lost someone who was dear to them."

No member of Tanner's family attended the hearing.

Malone, 48, and Freddie Lee Morris, 54, abducted Woodward in St. Petersburg, drove him to Tampa locked in the trunk of his car and shot him in a muddy field.

The body wasn't found for three months.

Morris and Malone then used the car to rob an Ybor City gas station, killing Tanner.

Morris and Malone blamed each other for the killings. But prosecutors say Malone killed both men, though Morris was undoubtedly present, too.

Malone got life without parole for 25 years after he pleaded guilty to two first-degree murder charges. Morris, who is not eligible for parole until 2006, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving life.

Said Mrs. Kuhlman: "I don't think Mr. Malone has done anything to rehabilitate himself."

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