One of NE Ohio's most notorious killers wants out of prison — again
Doug Prade, a former Akron police captain convicted of killing his ex-wife, Dr. Margo Prade, will have his first parole hearing Wednesday, June 4.
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Prade is serving 20 years to life at the Marion Correctional Institution.
He was convicted of his-ex-wife's murder in 1998.
Last week, Fox 8's Dave Nethers, spoke with one of the Prades' dearest friends.
Donzella Anuszkiewicz, who also is a former federal investigator said, 'There's no doubt in my mind that he did it.'
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The Prades had divorced, but friends, family, and court testimony show he continued to harass and threaten his ex-wife.
'We were very afraid for Margo,' said Anuszkiewicz.
On the day before Thanksgiving 1997, Margo was shot six times inside her minivan parked outside of her Akron medical office.
Doug Prade has maintained his innocence and in 2013 his conviction was overturned.
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He was released from prison based on DNA evidence related to a bite mark on Dr. Prade's lab coat.
Eighteen months later, he was back behind bars. That evidence was rejected.
Wednesday, Prade will go before a parole committee, a small group of parole board members, who will hear his plea for release.
Within days, they will make a recommendation to the full board. If they recommend parole, there will be a full hearing with lawyers and victims permitted to speak.
Six years ago, when Doug Prade's appeals were rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court, then Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said the former police captain was right where he belonged.
'It was just a vicious murder and he deserves to serve a very long time in prison,' said Walsh. 'He had been harassing her, He had been illegally wiretapping her phone, threatening her, and assaulting her. She was terrified of him.'
Traditionally, the inmate is allowed to have an attorney present at the parole committee hearing, however, only Doug Prade will be permitted to speak.
The committee will then make a recommendation to the full parole board in the coming days.
If they favor release, they'll hold the larger hearing before making a final decision.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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