Murderer’s Parole Reversed

Written by Estero Bay News

April 7, 2022

A convicted murderer had his parole reversed by the Governor and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney applauds the decision.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 30 that he was reversing parole for Jason Adam Greenwell, who was one of several people convicted in the 2010 murder of Dystiny Meyers, who was just 15 when she was killed. 

Greenwell was convicted in 2013 of taking part in that brutal murder. The State Parole Board had granted Greenwell parole last November, which caused SLO County D.A. Dan Dow to write to the Governor asking him to stop Greenwell’s release.

A news release from the D.A.’s Office said the motive behind Meyers’ murder “remains murky.” Greenwell and his accomplices were heavy methamphetamine addicts at the time and involved in the illegal drug trade. Greenwell was 20-years old at the time of the murder. His accomplices in the crime all got life in prison and remain behind bars.

The crime shocked SLO County residents. Meyers, “was brutally beaten, taped to a chair, then removed, placed in a bag, thrown in the back of a truck, taken to a remote area, dumped into a shallow grave, and set on fire,” the release said. “Her partially burned remains were discovered by a Cal Fire employee investigating a reported grass fire.”

Gov. Newsom’s decision to reverse Greenwell’s parole reveals a troubled childhood. “In making this decision, I carefully examined the record for evidence demonstrating Mr. Greenwell’s increased maturity and rehabilitation and gave great weight to all the factors relevant to his diminished culpability as a youthful offender, including his impulsivity and other hallmark features of youth. 

“I note that Mr. Greenwell faced adverse childhood experiences that shaped his life and choices. Mr. Greenwell reports that his father abused him, his mother, and his siblings, and he frequently tried to escape his home. The psychologist who evaluated Mr. Greenwell noted that, ‘This combination of a dysfunctional home and exposure to crime in his neighborhood/environment likely influenced his thinking, attitude and behavior as evidenced by his early involvement in drug use, criminal behaviors and juvenile arrests.’”

The Governor said he also took into consideration the fact that over the 11 years he’s been locked up, Greenwell earned an Associate’s Degree and learned a vocation, “and has participated in consistent self-help programming, including substance abuse prevention courses. He has also maintained an exemplary disciplinary record.”

But the Governor said that Greenwell is a drug addict and admitted to continued meth abuse while in prison in 2014 and 2015. “I encourage Mr. Greenwell to focus on developing a deeper understanding of his triggers for substance use, and its nexus to his violent conduct,” Gov. Newsom wrote.

A psychologist diagnosed Greenwell with “methamphetamine and cocaine use disorders,” that is in remission so long as he remains in a “controlled environment.” The crime was committed in the midst of a 6-day meth binge, the Governor’s decision revealed.  “I concluded that he needs to do additional substance abuse prevention programming before he can be released.”

D.A. Dow said, “I am grateful for Governor Newsom’s decision to reverse the Board of Parole Hearings’ decision. We agree with the Governor’s conclusion that Greenwell currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time.

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