Juvenile Killers in Yakima Gaining Freedom in 2024 After Brutal Murders

He was convicted in the brutal 1993 slaying of a family in outlook. Today he's living free after being released in the same community in which he committed the crimes.

NOW BOTH KILLERS WILL SOON BE FREE

He's 40-year-old Joel Ramos. He was convicted in the 1993 killings of the Skelton family in Outlook when he was 14-years-old. Ramos was released from prison in 2020. Now  Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic says Ramos partner in the crime is next to gain freedom.

BOTH KILLERS WERE YOUNG TEENS WHEN THE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED

45-year-old Miguel Gaitan was also 14-years-old when he and Ramos attacked stabbed, beat and killed the Skelton family in Outlook as part of a gang initiation.
Earlier this month Gaitan, who was originally sentenced to four consecutive life-without-parole sentences was resentenced to four concurrent 25-year-to-life sentences.

STATE OFFICIALS WILL SOON RELEASE GAITAN

It's now up to the state sentencing board when he'll gain his freedom.  There's no date yet set but it's expected to be sometime this spring or summer.
He's already served 30-years in prison.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

The resentencing of Gaitan and Ramos is the result of a 2012 ruling by the US Supreme Court saying mandatory life sentences for juveniles is unconstitutional.
Other killers in Yakima sentenced as juveniles could gain freedom as well.

TWO OTHER KILLERS TO BE RELEASED THIS YEAR AS WELL

The two suspects who killed 72-year-old Dorothy and and 87-year-old Mike Nickoloff may be released from prison this year. The brutal and violent stabbings of the couple shocked the community. Herbert "Chief" Rice Junior and Russell McNeil both 17 at the time of the killings were arrested. A jury found Rice guilty of murder while McNeil plead guilty to a murder charge. After court proceedings both teens were sentenced to life in prison with no parole. Now they're set to be resentenced in the near future when they could also gain freedom from prison.

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