On March 28, the state of Mississippi Parole Board will meet and decide whether Larry Fisher will be allowed parole and set free.

Larry Fisher, as a lot of you will remember, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of the late Pat Rivers. In addition Fisher was convicted of the rape and murder of Meridian teen Melinda Gail Weathers, only to have the conviction overturned by the Mississippi Supreme Court. In recent reviewed documents, the Supreme Court indicated it felt he was guilty of the crime, but he felt he was not given a fair trial in Lauderdale County.

A Brandon jury found him not guilty in a retrial due to questions arising from how Melinda’s jewelry was found in his truck. Jewelry was found in his truck from another murdered Meridian teen, Carol Formby. All the above crimes were committed while Fisher was on parole after serving five years of a 15-year sentence in Georgia on a conviction of rape, kidnapping and forcible robbery.

As a parent and husband, I think it is very important to keep Larry Fisher off the street and behind bars, where he belongs. For the safety of our community, please write the Parole Board and contest the release of this man. All letters must have his name and Department of Corrections number as follows: Larry Fisher- MDOC#41417. Letters need to be sent to State of Mississippi Parole Board, 201 W. Capital St., Suite 800, Jackson, MS 39201.

I helped walk the woods of our community in 1983 looking for these young ladies and live with the fine family that lost Melinda. I would not want another family to endure the pain we experienced in losing Melinda in such a senseless way. We have been told by two Meridian citizens they thought Fisher had paid his debt and would not help. If you think this way, I hope and pray he does not move into your neighborhood.

Please take time to help keep our communities safe and Larry Fisher off our streets.

Bruce Roberts

Meridian