WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) — Families of three of the five Alpine Manor Nursing Home murder victims vow to fight to keep one of the killer nurse's aides in prison.
The families plan to appeal the Michigan Parole Board's ruling to release Catherine Wood after 29 years of her 20- to 40-year prison sentence. Her release date is set for Oct. 24.
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, who said the state Department of Corrections failed to notify him about Wood's parole hearing last month, said he would help the families with their fight.
Becker said he didn't learn about her pending release until watching a report on 24 Hour News 8 Monday.
DOC spokesman Chris Gautz said the prison system is required by law to notify prosecutors of parole hearings and decisions by the parole board. He said he was trying to determine if that didn't happen.
Wood, now 57, and her lover, Gwendolyn Graham, suffocated five elderly women in their beds at Alpine Manor Nursing Home in Walker in 1987. All five victims suffered from Alzheimer's or dementia. Wood and Graham, both nurse's aides at the home, were reportedly trying to spell MURDER with the victims' initials.
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