‘Onion Field’ Killer Powell Denied Parole

VACAVILLE —  A state prison board Friday denied parole to convicted “Onion Field” police killer Gregory Powell and ordered a new investigation into the shooting 24 years ago.

Powell and Jimmy Lee Smith were convicted of the March, 1963, kidnaping of Los Angeles Police Officers Ian Campbell and Karl Hettinger and the killing of Campbell.

Hettinger escaped death by bolting away from the killers and running across an onion field near Bakersfield where the officers had been taken. Campbell was shot five times at point-blank range, investigators said.

Reading the decision of the Board of Prison Terms after a 42-minute hearing and more than 90 minutes of deliberation, Commissioner Maureen O’Connell said Powell’s attitude made him “unsuitable for parole at this time.”

“His release would inspire an immeasurable risk of danger to the public,” she added.

“He was convicted of a heinous crime, but murder did not deter him from committing other crimes, including four jailbreak attempts. The killing of Officer Campbell was brutal and callous.

“The board also is ordering an investigation into who fired the five shots,” O’Connell said. “We are requesting investigators research the case and bring us a complete report before the next scheduled hearing.”

O’Connell indicated that Powell’s actions, including how many shots he fired and with what intent, may influence the board’s decision at his next parole hearing.

For the second time in two years, Powell, 52, failed to appear for his parole hearing, preferring to await a California Supreme Court hearing on an earlier parole decision that could free him.

Both Powell and Smith were originally given death sentences, which were overturned on appeal. Smith is now free on parole. Powell remains at the California Correctional Facility at Vacaville.