Convicted murder Edward Russell Dubose will remain behind bars – at least for another five years.

The state parole board Tuesday denied Dubose’s request for freedom following the 1988 murder of 16-year-old Stephanie King.

Miss King was a T.R. Miller High School senior when she was abducted from Alco Baptist Church on Oct. 22, 1988. She was raped, sodomized and strangled to death. Her body was later found inside her car, which was in a wooded area about four miles from the church.

Dubose was convicted of murder and sentenced to the death penalty in 1989. However, his conviction was overturned in 1995 by an appellate court, which ruled that a request for funds to hire an independent DNA expert for the defense should have been granted.
On Sept. 8, 1997, Dubose, who confessed to the murder, plead guilty to murder in Escambia County Circuit Court and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Tuesday was his second appearance before the parole board.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s print edition.