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On April 22, 1996, Higinio Gonzalez fatally shot Eric Pavilionis in the chest. Higinio was arrested a day after the homicide and immediately admitted to killing Eric. Even though he was only 16 years old at the time of the incident, Gonzalez was sentenced to life in prison in 1997. He will be eligible for parole in 2027.
In, I Am A Killer on Netflix, Higinio Gonzalez is shown recounting his crime and expressing his regret for what he has done. Viewers of the episode empathized with him with many people believing that his life sentence was unfair and that he has changed now. Several Redditors rooting for his early release wrote:
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"This is a man that can be released. He has a conscience. He is remorseful. He sees his errors. You can work with this guy."
"This may have been one of my favorite episodes. I really hope he gets the early release he deserves...," expressed one netizen.
"hope this dude gets released. He was by far the most genuine. He was so young too. I don’t believe in the majority of children given life sentences/sentenced as adults. They aren’t adults. Their brains aren’t fully developed and they need the opportunity to change..." another Netizen wrote.
Several other Redditors, who held similar sentiments, commented:
".....my opinion, 30 years is more than enough punishment for him. He does seem to feel immense remorse and, even though this was a senseless act that killed a father of 4, there can be redemption in this case and I don't see him being a threat to society. Life in prison is extreme in this case," a Redditor commented.
"This is the only episode where I bawled my eyes out. He did a horrible thing, but I really feel he is sincere and would lead a good life if he were to be released right now, another user sympathized with Higinio and wrote.
"This one broke me. Incarcerating a 16 year old for life seems insane, wrote another Redditor."
Several other Redditors found season 5 episode 3 of I Am a Killer extremely cathartic. Concerning that, here is what some of the comments read:
"I cried watching this episode, it’s a sad episode on both sides, a Netizen wrote, after watching the show.
"This one hurt. I hurt for Eric’s family. I hurt for Higinio too. A tragedy for everyone," another user commented.
When will Higinio Gonzalez be eligible for parole?
Higinio Gonzalez was condemned to life in 1997, with the possibility of release after 30 years. He was only 17 years old in 1997. Gonzalez will become eligible for parole in 2027. However, before being released, he will have to appear before a parole board for an evaluation. If the parole board rules in Gonzalez's favor and believes he has changed, he will be set free.
What are your thoughts on Higinio Gonzalez's life sentence? Let us know in the comments below.
