Tedisco: New Yorkers are Safer for Now that the Killer of Shenendehowa Students Christopher Stewart and Deanna Rivers is Going Back to Jail

“Capital Region residents and all New Yorkers, and especially the Stewart and Rivers families, can breathe a huge sigh of relief that the public is safer for now that convicted killer and serial drunk and dangerous driver Dennis Drue today has been sent back to jail where he belongs, until at least another hearing on June 5th.”

“Clearly, Drue has not reformed and learned his lesson and needs to face his full prison sentence.”

“Kudos to Judge Diamond for remanding Drue back to jail and incredible job by Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen and her outstanding team of prosecutors who have been dogged in their pursuit of justice and showed how he violated the terms of his early 2023 release from prison by not installing or being in a car with an interlock device.”

“I give tremendous credit to the Stewart and Rivers families for their tremendous courage and constant advocacy in memory of Christoher and Deanna. They have used this terrible tragedy to try and prevent what happened to their family from ever happening again to other families.”

“As the legal effort in this case continues, it’s critical that the legislature must quickly pass my bi-partisan legislation, ‘Christopher and Deanna’s Law,’ Senate Bill S.24, named in loving memory of Christopher Stewart and Deanna Rivers, to ensure victim impact statements are video recorded.”

“The bill requires all victim impact statements to be video recorded and mandates all Parole Board members who vote on parole for an offender, must watch the videos before making their decision, if the members do not meet with victims and their families in person.”

“We need to pass the bi-partisan ‘Christopher’s and Deanna’s Law’ to enhance the voices of our forgotten citizens - crime victims — and ensure victim impact statements are video recorded and mandate all state Parole Board members who vote on parole for an offender must watch the videos before making their decision.”

“It’s time to fix the broken parole system to prevent a miscarriage of justice.”

“They say seeing is believing. It’s time to truly make crime victims seen and heard.”