Radford native Stephen Epperly will remain behind bars after the Virginia Parole Board turned down his latest request to be set free.
Despite the fact he was given life in prison for the death of former Radford University coed Gina Hall, Epperly remains eligible for parole
This past week’s decision is number seven, but he could receive another hearing next year on the basis of his geriatric age status. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has told parole officials to consider releasing as many as 1,500 prisoners because of their age to cut back on the number of older prisoners being held around the state. Epperly is in his late 60s.
Hall disappeared on June 28, 1980, and evidence pointed to Epperly being the last person who saw her alive. He was convicted without a body and has maintained his innocence despite being behind bars for the past 40 years.
Family members have continued to search for Hall’s remains and recently said they found what they think are dismembered parts of her body. Those findings were mentioned in letters to the parole board.
So far, the parole board has not posted its reasoning for denying Epperly’s hearing.
Epperly was recently moved from a maximum security prison near Richmond to a minimum security facility in Lawrenceville where he underwent hip surgery.
