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Kansas Prisoner Review Board Reverses Parole for Trooper’s Killer

Jimmie Nelms, convicted of murdering Trooper Conroy O’Brien in 1978, remains incarcerated after parole approval was rescinded following political and public backlash.

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Overview

  • The Kansas Prisoner Review Board rescinded its March 6, 2025 decision to grant parole to Jimmie Nelms during a May 16 hearing.
  • Nelms was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and firearm possession in the 1978 killing of Trooper Conroy O’Brien and sentenced to two life terms plus nine years.
  • The board provided no public explanation for reversing its decision, fueling criticism of the parole system’s transparency.
  • Law enforcement groups and state leaders, including Governor Laura Kelly and Attorney General Kris Kobach, strongly opposed Nelms’ parole approval.
  • Nelms has been eligible for parole since 1993 and has appeared before the board nine times, with this latest reversal reigniting debates over justice and accountability in parole decisions.