UTAH STATE PRISON — A man who was told a decade ago that he would spend the rest of his life in prison has been granted another chance to make his case for parole.
In 1995, Larry Ross Harmon shot and killed Douglas L. Greer, 27, and wounded Raymond O. Thomas, 22, as they were walking away from his Frampton Heights cabin in rural Millard County. Harmon, the only full-time resident of the sparsely populated mountain town, was in charge of keeping an eye on the other cabins.
When the truck that Greer and Thomas were in got stuck in the mud, they went looking for help. When Harmon spotted them near his cabin, he ordered them to get off his property, but then followed the two men.
Harmon, now 81, claimed he was in fear of his life when he shot both men. But prosecutors argued that the shooting was unprovoked.
Harmon was convicted of murder and attempted murder in 1996 and was sentenced to a term of five years to life in prison.
Following a parole hearing in 2008, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole announced, “The board of pardons will give no further consideration for release,” and said Harmon “will serve (his) natural life in prison.”
But on Oct. 22, Harmon was granted another parole hearing.
Inmates are allowed to request a “redetermination review” after 10 years, according to a parole board spokesman. In order to qualify for such a review, an inmate must not have any new criminal convictions or pending major disciplinary violations, and the board must find a “significant and material change in circumstances has occurred which it has not previously considered.”
In a recording of his most recent parole hearing, Harmon thanked board member Denise Porter, who conducted the hearing.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” he said.
Harmon, who will turn 82 next month, has had significant health problems in recent years, including a heart attack in 2016. He has also undergone back, lung and eye surgery in recent years.
“All these things, plus my age, 82, is starting to catch up with me,” he said.
These issues have also caused arthritis, Harmon said.
“I hurt all over from my head to my toes,” he told Porter.
Furthermore, Harmon has equilibrium issues. On the day before his hearing, he tripped on his ankle restraints and fell.
“My handcuffs kept me from breaking my fall and I just went right down on the concrete,” said Harmon who received 20 stitches and had a bandage on his head and a scraped nose during his hearing.
Harmon was remorseful as he talked about his crime, but still maintains his victims attempted to attack him on that night.
“I’m very, very sorry that it happened. I wish that I could have handled it differently,” he said.
Harmon said he regrets not calling the sheriff’s office to report the trespassers rather than confronting the men himself.
“It’s not my nature. It wasn’t the way I was brought up. So I’ve been sorry ever since,” he said.
Harmon also told Porter that he has successfully completed many classes and treatment programs while in prison, and believes he has benefited from all of them.
“I feel that I am a changed person,” he said. “I am not a threat to society. I would once again be a productive, law-abiding citizen.
“I’ve worked hard since I’ve been incarcerated to better myself, to understand treating people with respect and more so than I was brought up,” he continued. “Basically, I think I’ve learned a lot being in prison, and I wanted to thank the system. ... I feel it has been beneficial to me, the years that I have spent, and I don’t begrudge it.”
But after more than two decades in prison, Harmon believes he is ready to be released.
“I really desire for my remaining few years to be able to do some of the things I wanted to do,” he said.
The full five-member board will now vote on whether to grant parole.