MILLERSBURG — It's not because he's guilty, but because it's God's will that John Friedrich has spent nearly 29 years of his life in prison for the 1986 murder of Gayle Meggyesy.
That's according to his son, Robert, and ex-wife, Christine, who are among those who not only believe Friedrich should be granted parole, but that he is innocent and was wrongfully convicted.
Christine was 4 ½ months pregnant with the couple's second child when her husband was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years to life. Robert was born in August 1988 and has never known his father as a free man.
The two years that preceded the trial and the trial itself were “quite traumatic and stressful,” according to Christine, who, along with most of the Friedrich family…show more content… “Everybody's been ready for it for a long time.”
But, they've been here before. And, before, it's been denied. “I'm not getting my hopes up. I've had them dashed plenty of times,” he said.
He said he asks the parole board to consider that and the great family support when contemplating the request.
Addressing the Meggyesy family's concerns for safety, Robert said, “I would tell (the parole board) outright, I'm not afraid of my dad and would like him released so I could have a dad. He's well served for his conviction.”
Likewise, Christine said, “We want people to know we are not in fear and we believe in his innocence. Fear and intimidation tainted and prevented people from coming forward and sharing things during the investigation and at the trial.”
To the Meggyesy family, specifically Danielle, who shared concerns in a prior Daily Record article, she said, “I'm very sorry of what she had to go through and I think it just goes back to the fear and intimidation. I'm sorry she has put herself in her own fear. It's unnecessary.”
Robert said he would simply “ask how they are doing” and “did it really impact
