Frank Sinatra
Hearing Delayed For Jilly's Murderer
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Jilly Rizzo
Board delays parole hearing for convicted murderer
By Christine Mahr
The Desert Sun
April 4th, 2002
A man serving a 15-years-to-life sentence for second- degree murder in the death of a long-time friend of Frank Sinatra will have to wait to make his case for parole.
The state Board of Prison Terms postponed its scheduled parole hearing for Jeffrey Perrotte without setting another date.
The hearing was set for Wednesday at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison near Blythe, where Perrotte is serving his sentence.
Hurdles: Miscommunication between prison and board officials about the time of the hearing was cited, Deputy District Attorney Sean Crandell said. The board also hasn’t had a chance to review a recent psychological evaluation of Perrotte, Crandell added.
Perrotte’s conviction in July 1993 resulted from a fiery car crash that killed Sinatra’s friend, Jilly Rizzo, in May 1992. Perrotte’s car slammed into Rizzo’s on Gerald Ford Drive in Rancho Mirage.
Prosecutors charged Perrotte with second-degree murder because he was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident and had a history of drunken-driving convictions.
Although no new parole hearing date was set, it probably will occur in the next few months, Crandell said.
The district attorney’s office is opposing Perrotte’s release.
"The primary reason is we feel he’s a danger to the community," Crandell said. He cited Perrotte’s past convictions and drunken-driving history, along with his actions following the accident.
Trial evidence showed Perrotte left the scene of the accident instead of trying to help Rizzo, who was trapped in the car when it exploded and burned. Perrotte testified that he tried unsuccessfully to get to Rizzo and then left to call 911.
Family’s views: Rizzo’s family, except for an adopted daughter, opposes his release from prison. "It was a 15-years-to-life sentence, and he hasn’t even done nine years," said Abby Rizzo, Jilly Rizzo’s daughter. "And he’s never apologized to us for what he did -- not openly and not privately."
The board has received numerous communications in support of and in opposition to Perrotte’s release.
Some of the supportive letters, including two from correctional officers, talked about how Perrotte has turned his life around in prison.
He has earned college degrees, taught prisoners to read and written articles distributed by Alcoholics Anonymous to help people with addictions turn their lives around, letters said.
Abby Rizzo said that doesn’t mean much to her. "They’re not serving alcohol in prison, and he doesn’t have keys to a car there," she said.
Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy, and a deputy attorney general have said they oppose Perrotte’s release.
"They feel he hasn’t been punished enough for what he did," Crandell said.
Christine Mahr covers courts and higher education for The
Desert Sun. She can be reached at (760) 775-4207 or via
e-mail at Christine.Mahr@thedesertsun.com.
©2002 The Desert Sun.
Posted by: Nancy | Apr 4, 2002 12:01 PM | 
Comments(12)
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Lynda51 says:
Apr 4, 2002 4:48 PM
I have written an E-mail this evening to Christine Mahr about this matter. I am waiting to see if I get a response.
ELIZABETH says:
Apr 4, 2002 8:02 PM
Dear Nancy,
Your Letter is already making a difference, since it was noted in today's "Desert Sun" Report by Christine Mahr, along with Abby Rizzo's Comments.
I am joining you and Lynda in sending an E-Mail Letter to Christine Mahr.
RICK IN SYDNEY says:
Apr 6, 2002 3:25 AM
You go go girls!
California's acknowledgement of the automobile as a deadly weapon - and a drunk behind the wheel as a second-degree murderer - is exemplary legislation which is unfortunately not being copied worldwide. It's just, in a world where justice doesn't often find its way onto the lawbooks.
When laws aren't prosecuted - or when sentencing diminishes the crime - those laws become toothless and irrelevant.
Nancy, Lynda, Elizabeth: More power to you! Great stuff! Best wishes!
(maybe a supportive e.mail from Australia would be going a bit too far...)
ELIZABETH says:
Apr 6, 2002 8:53 AM
Dear Rick,
No, it wouldn't be going a bit too far! You've just made some good statements in your message.
Lynda51 says:
Apr 6, 2002 9:03 AM
Rick,
I agree with Elizabeth! Go for it! I think an E-Mail from you writing your views like you did above, and specially coming as far away as Australia would have a good impact on this matter!
gerald says:
Apr 6, 2002 12:02 PM
Dear Friend Nancy.
I'm joining You and my Very Dear Friends Lynda, Elizabeth and Rick in sending an e-mail letter to Christine Mahr. Justice must be done !
Best Wishes from Your Friend,
Gerald Markowitz
ARIES3032 says:
Apr 7, 2002 10:45 AM
Dear Nancy, This person cannot be allowed parole. Too may people DO Not serve their time for their actions. It is time to put a stop to this. Drunk drivers have and will kill others. I will be sure to send an e-mail as the othershave done. You have my support. Leatrice
Jamie says:
Apr 7, 2002 11:27 AM
I truly hope justice is done, though even justice still couldn't make up for what happened..
ELIZABETH says:
Apr 7, 2002 1:04 PM
Dear Lynda, Rick, Gerald, Lee, and Jamie,
I agree with Lynda that a Letter from Australia would have impact. That also goes for a Letter from Rio De Janiero, and Letters from as far away as Florida and Massachusetts, too. Dear Jamie, it cannot bring Jilly back, but it can give his Family and Friends some feelings of closure, justice, and peace. And, it can prevent crimes like this from happening again.
Carl says:
Apr 9, 2002 12:13 PM
If you do the crime, you do the time. This felon hasn't even served 9 years? That's not justice!
mschierb says:
Jan 2, 2003 8:40 PM
With this guy's past record of drunk driving offenses, I question why he was even on the streets in the first place. We need justice for Jilly and for all of those who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers. Maybe a victims rights group could get behind this. The group started by the late Doris Tate after her daughter Sharon Tate was murdered have done an excellent job in keeping Sharon's killers behind bars by being there at their parole hearings.
boy wonder says:
Sep 3, 2003 12:14 PM
Mr. Perrotte has now been in prison for 11 years. He has nearly missed all of his childrens childhood and has shown a regret for what happened and changed his life around in result. If he were to be up for perol then I think he should be given it. I do believe that he did deserve some jail time for what happen, but most people in his situation do less than half of what he has done already. I just want to know how much time is enough, people have accedents and the right or wrong of them is how they learn and change from them. I believe that Mr. Perrotte has and should be given some understanding as a person.