FLAGSTAFF, AZ — Arizona Crime Uncovered is an expansion of ABC15's series working to bring awareness to victims who are still awaiting justice and providing an in-depth look at cases still unfolding.
Each episode of Arizona Crime Uncovered breaks down a timeline of the case, where it stands now, and if any help is needed from the community.
Our latest episode examines the murder of 16-year-old Eric Kane in 1986. The teen was killed by his camp roommate, Jacob Wideman, at a Flagstaff hotel. It was a murder without motive and a story that made national headlines. The decades-old case is back in the spotlight as Eric's killer pushes to be released on home arrest. ABC15's Ashley Holden spoke with the teen victim's dad in his first-ever sit-down interview.
FLAGSTAFF 1986
Summer for Eric meant spending time at summer camp in Maine. In his final year at the camp, the 16-year-old looked forward to a traditional trip out west. But it was on that trip, during a stop in Flagstaff, where Eric's life would be cut short. Wideman, Eric's camp roommate, stabbed the teen in the chest twice. Eric's dad Sandy Kane still remembers receiving the call from Flagstaff police.
"[Jacob] said that, you know, Eric and he had not had an argument or a fight," said Sandy. "There was no ill will between the two of them."
After borrowing the camp counselor's keys, Wideman fled in a getaway car before eventually turning himself in. The case sparked national intrigue for multiple reasons. Wideman's dad was a well-known author. Also about a year after Eric's murder, Wideman confessed to another murder. He later recanted that confession.
"When he was finally sentenced two years later, after he had pleaded guilty to murder, the judge in the sentencing said that he was going to recommend that even though Jake was going to be eligible for parole in 25 years, he was going to make a recommendation that would be in the record to the parole board that he never be paroled."
PRISON ROMANCE AND HOME ARREST
ABC15 started following Wideman's case in 2016 when Chief Investigator Dave Biscobing reported that the convicted murderer had married two of his prison psychologists. Eight years ago, his wife, Dr. Marta DeSoto, had a lucrative contract with the Arizona Department of Child Safety to evaluate parents. After ABC15's story, her contract was cut.
A controversial vote by the Board of Executive Clemency, also in 2016, released Wideman on home arrest.
"They have arrested him properly," said Sandy. "They have had two revocation hearings where they unanimously decided that was proper and that he should remain in jail. They have filed very substantial, strong briefs in response to all of his special actions in the courts, as well as this Court of Appeals, and the brief that was filed by Wideman for the Court of Appeals doesn't have anything new in it that hasn't already been overturned."
But less than a year later, he was sent back behind bars after failing to make an appointment with a psychologist by a set date. Since then, Wideman and his legal team have filed multiple special actions, also saying the revocation process that followed didn't follow due process. That battle has taken Wideman and his attorney before the board and multiple Superior Court judges.
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
In the fall of 2024, a new possible path forward for Wideman was revealed.
"So, I'm horrified about that possibility," said Sandy. "I take solace in the fact that the board has the right to turn them down, and I'm hoping that they will do that. But I'll be anxious. I'll be honest, and say I'm anxious about December 3."
ABC15 reached out to the five-member board who was serving when Wideman was released on home arrest. Two have passed away, two did not reply to our request, and one turned down an interview.
Former board member David Neal, who was part of the revocation process, did agree to sit down with us.
"To me, it was really obvious really quick that he was a manipulator, and he was going come in and tell his story the way we wanted to hear it so he would get his way," said Neal.
But there are people who plan to write letters to the board in support of Wideman, including Donna Leone Hamm. She's the founder of Middle Ground Prison Reform and has followed Wideman's case for years.
"I think he's done that, I think he's gotten the treatment he needs," said Hamm. "I think he demonstrated behavior, over nine months, when he was out that he wasn't a threat to anyone, and so yes I very firmly believe that he can be paroled to the community."
ABC15 reached out to Wideman's attorneys, who only sent the brief they filed to the Court of Appeals. His legal team said they had no other comments on the pending legal matters.
Our team also reached out to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry before our story aired. They told us they didn't have anyone available for an interview and stopped replying to numerous email requests. Their legal team also did not respond in time for this story.
The State Attorney General's Office pointed ABC15 to the Board of Executive Clemency for any comment. The Board's Executive Director sent a copy of the settlement agreement but did not want to provide anything additional. The agreement would place the convicted killer, now in his 50's, back on home arrest.
RELATED: Victim's family questions legitimacy, circumstances of convicted murderer's release
New documents obtained by ABC15 say if the agreement is approved, Wideman has been accepted into multiple re-entry programs here in Phoenix.
His legal team called Wideman a "model prisoner", and his brother also wrote a letter of support to the board.
Sandy Kane, Eric's dad says he adamantly disagrees and is fearful if Wideman is released.
On December 3, the Board of Executive Clemency unanimously voted to defer the decision on the settlement agreement until the case moves through the Court of Appeals.
Sandy spoke with ABC15 after the hearing.
"I was surprised by what happened today, because I didn't think it was an alternative," said Sandy on Dec. 3. "Surprised, but pleased, because I view this as almost as good as them having said no."
Technically Wideman's team didn't draft the settlement agreement according to them. It was said publicly at the meeting.
ABC15 spoke with Sandy exclusively in November, watch the video in the player above.
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