Gavin Newsom allows parole for man who buried disabled victim alive

Weidert was serving a life sentence for killing Michael Morganti in 1980. This was to cover up a $500 burglary. The murder occurred when Weidert was 17 and Morganti was 20. As a consequence of speaking to law enforcement about their crimes, Weidert and an accomplice killed Morganti.

Specifically, Weidert lured Morganti into a vehicle and drove to a secluded area where he forced Morganti to dig his own grave. Weider and his accomplice then beat Morganti with a shovel and baseball bat. They then stabbed him with a knife and choked him with a telephone wire. Morganti was then buried alive and suffocated as a result.

Morganti’s sister, Vikki Van Duyne, said she was stunned after attending 11 parole hearings over the years to oppose Weidert’s release. “I didn’t think the governor would think that things had changed in 13 months from the time when he said no last time because I didn’t see anything change,” she said. She remains steadfast in her belief that Weidert is a danger to society.

Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp accused the governor of pandering to “people who want to end incarceration.”

Currently, there is a significant campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom due to his failure in managing the pandemic. The recall election is set to take place on September 13.