Parole denied for man convicted of 1974 slaying of wildlife officer

For immediate release: November 2, 2012
Contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525

Parole denied for man convicted of 1974 slaying of wildlife officer

The Florida Parole Commission, on Oct. 31, denied parole for the man convicted of killing Wildlife Officer Danese “Dan” Crowder.

Crowder was shot and killed in Lafayette County while attempting to arrest Colon Russell for hunting deer out of season on May 3, 1974.

After a brief chase, Russell stopped and shot Crowder in the stomach and back with a .243-caliber rifle. Russell was convicted of Crowder’s murder and sentenced to life in prison.

“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) supports the Florida Parole Commission’s decision to deny parole for Colon Russell,” said Maj. Camille Soverel, regional commander for the FWC’s North Central Region, based in Lake City.

“The tragic shooting of Officer Dan Crowder in 1974 is remembered and mourned by FWC staff. This occasion serves as a reminder of the perils of conservation law enforcement. These officers earn the nation’s respect, facing danger on a daily basis. Unfortunately, some have made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives protecting both people and natural resources.

The officers and their families are not forgotten,” Soverel said.