California Judge Rejects Bid to Overturn Polly Klaas Killer's Death Sentence

Marc Klaas, father of murdered 12-year-old Polly Klaas, expressed outrage and relief after a California judge rejected a convicted killer's bid to overturn his death sentence, calling it a "travesty of justice."

Marc Klaas, the father of Polly Klaas, has vehemently condemned convicted killer Richard Allen Davis' attempt to overturn his death sentence, labeling it a "travesty of justice."

"I couldn't have been happier. ... It was exactly what I wanted to hear," Klaas told Fox News Digital about a California judge's decision to dismiss Davis' resentencing request. "I thought the judge was fantastic. I thought Judge Williams did exactly what he needed to do, and he put a stop to this. ... I don't think he wanted to be the guy who threw himself on the third rail of Richard Allen Davis."

Davis, who is incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, was sentenced to death in 1996 for abducting 12-year-old Polly – known as the first missing girl on the internet – from a sleepover and subsequently strangling her to death in 1993.

On Friday, Sonoma County Judge Benjamin Williams dismissed Davis' petition to overturn his death sentence. Under Governor Gavin Newsom's 2019 decision to suspend the death penalty in the state, Davis was granted a resentencing hearing almost three decades after his conviction. However, the moratorium prevents executions while Newsom remains governor.

"It's a it's a travesty of justice, quite frankly. Twenty-eight years ago, he was sentenced to death, and this was over," Klaas said. "Now I'm completely fine with the system that exists. I'm fine with the appeals process. If they had found a reason through any of the appeals why he should be resentenced ... I would have been disappointed, but I would have understood it. This is something completely different."

Davis' resentencing request was based on Senate Bill 483, which permits defendants with one-year enhancements for prior convictions to seek recalls and resentencings. However, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office refused his request and successfully persuaded the judge to uphold his death sentence.

"The only one that benefits from any of this stuff that's going on in criminal justice in California are the criminals." — Marc Klaas

"We are pleased with the court’s ruling as we believe the remedy sought by the defense at this hearing far surpassed what the legislature intended in enacting SB 483," District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this ruling is strictly limited to capital murder sentences. Any existing prison sentence in California, whether it involved non-capital murder, rape, torture, or child sexual assault, is still at risk if it includes the one-year prison prior."

Klaas has revealed that he submitted a public records request to determine the number of convicted criminals in California eligible for resentencing under Newsom's 2019 law. The response contained over 9,000 names. Klaas advises other victims' families to follow a similar process to stay informed.

Newsom previously stated, "The intentional killing of another person is wrong and, as governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual." He characterized the death penalty as "a failure" and emphasized its high cost, lack of deterrent effect, and inequitable application.

Davis' conviction was upheld on appeal in 2009. The ongoing efforts to overturn his sentence reflect a trend in criminal justice reform advocates to challenge harsh punishments, particularly the death penalty, and seek second chances for inmates.