A high-profile convicted murderer, who was released on home arrest in a controversial decision last year, is now back in prison after an alleged violation of his release conditions.
Jacob Wideman was taken back into custody this week, officials confirmed.
The inmate, who was released late last year after spending nearly 30 years in prison, apparently didn’t follow through on required appointments with a psychologist, according to attorney Michael Kimerer, who has represented Wideman.
RELATED: Victim's family raises serious allegations about release of convicted murderer
On August 16, 1986, Wideman murdered Eric Kane in his sleep.
He stabbed Kane in the chest twice and left him to bleed to death. Both Wideman and Kane were 16 years old, staying in the same Flagstaff motel room while on a summer camp trip.
The murder was unprovoked. There was no motive.
Wideman would later say the crime was “the result of the buildup of a lot of emotions,” according to media reports and testimony before the state clemency board.
Wideman was sentenced to life in prison. During his incarceration, he married two of his prison therapists. He’s still married to his second wife, Dr. Marta Desoto.
Wideman was released on home arrest in November after a controversial vote by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency.
The current board is almost entirely different from the board that made the decision, and the new members denied Wideman’s request in May for full parole.
The victim’s family declined to comment on Wideman’s return to prison.
However, in the May hearing, the victim’s father, Sandy Kane, called on the state to investigate the terms and circumstances surrounding Wideman’s release.
After the hearing, Wideman denied to ABC15 that he had violated his release conditions or done anything to jeopardize his release.
In the coming weeks, officials said that the Clemency Board will hold a hearing to determine Wideman’s release status.
Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at dbiscobing@abc15.com.
