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WARREN -- A former Austintown woman, now an inmate at the Ohio Reformatory for Women and whom a prosecutor called "inscrutable," is going to spend at least 10 more years locked up.
The Ohio Parole Authority recently denied Sherry Delker's bid for freedom.
According to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office, Delker, 47, next will be eligible for parole in December 2031.
Delker pleaded guilty in 2002 to aggravated murder and was sentenced to a 20-years-to-life prison term for running over her daughter, who later died at an Austintown urgent care center on March 29, 2002. She had her first parole hearing in late February outside her cell at the Marysville prison.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins was pleased with the outcome of the hearing.
"The board made the right choice," he said.
In an interview before Delker's hearing, Watkins said this woman is "inscrutable."
In closing the letter to the parole board Watkins stated: "It does not matter what you call it -- mental illness or personality disorder or a combination thereof, the result and human tragedy is the same. In other words, Sherry Delker is out of children, but Ohio and America are not." Watkins stated he fears a free Delker in the future driving a car -- and in front of her is "someone's little girl or boy."
Delker's 6-year-old daughter Samantha was run over about 9:30 a.m. near St. Mary Catholic Church on Prospect Street and state Route 46 in Mineral Ridge. After the incident, Delker, who at the time lived on North Turner Road in Austintown, took her daughter to the urgent care center about 3 miles south in the center of Austintown. At the care center, Delker told a Weathersfield detective the child was run over by a blue pickup truck or minivan with a woman driver who had fled.
Taking evidence found at the scene, however, investigators linked the crime to Delker, who took a plea deal after she was found competent to stand trial.
OTHER CASES
Another Trumbull County inmate also lost in his bid for parole.
David Owens, 57, who is serving a 10-years-to-life sentence at Lake Erie Correction Institution, will remain in prison at least until his next parole hearing, which is scheduled for December 2024, the prosecutor's office stated.
Owens already has served 28 1/2 years in prison after being sentenced in January 1993 to concurrent life terms on child rape charges.
His victims were children ages 5 to 10.
Watkins also was pleased with the board's verdict in this case.
"In our opinion, make no mistake about it, this man is living proof that bad can get worse," Watkins wrote, noting Owens has not behaved himself as an inmate, with numerous infractions involving drug use, fights, threats and destruction of property, plus stalking and threatening a female corrections officer.
Meanwhile, another parole case that Watkins addressed is scheduled for a quick turnaround.
A second hearing is set for April for Gary A. Betz, 68, who is serving a 15-years-to-life sentence for aggravated murder and aggravated robbery convictions. Betz was convicted in a 1976 fatal shooting at a tavern near Lake Milton.
Betz three times previously had received parole, including the latest time in 2007, and was sent back to prison each time. Watkins wants the "merry-go-round" to stop and said he will be sending another letter to the parole board before the April hearing.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com