Convicted Keyes murderer Richard Dean Morris, 58, will be released from prison just 18 months after the state Board of Parole Hearings found that he posed an unreasonable risk to public safety.

At a parole hearing held August 6 at San Quentin State Prison, the panel changed its mind.

At the hearing, Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Blythe Harris argued against the parole, saying Morris will be a danger if released. The Board of Parole Hearings disagreed, finding that Morris qualified for release as a “youthful offender” because he was under the age of 25 when the offenses took place.

In 1984, Morris held his sister-in-law down while his older brother Robert strangled her in front of the victim’s four-year-old daughter. While the victim was still struggling to live, Morris put the child back to bed in another room. Both men were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to serve 25 years-to-life in prison.

In 1986, while incarcerated in Folsom State prison, Morris stabbed another inmate, causing great bodily injury. He was convicted in Sacramento County for that crime and sentenced to serve an additional life prison term consecutive to his original murder sentence.

Morris had previously been denied parole in 2018 on the grounds that he posed an unreasonable risk to public safety. At that time, the Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for three years. This release comes only 18 months later.