Convicted Kalispell murderer denied parole for 4th time

A former Kalispell man convicted of murdering his wife nearly four decades ago was denied parole Wednesday by the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole in Deer Lodge.

Jerry Forsyth, 72, was convicted in 1986 of shooting and killing his 31-year-old wife, Karen (Kienas) Forsyth, on Dec. 12, 1979 because he was having an affair and wanted to retain her share in the Skyline Bowling Alley, which they ran together in Kalispell. Forysth and his friend Douglas Richards planned the murder, according to law enforcement officials.

Forsyth was sentenced to 110 years in state prison for the crime. He has been up for parole four times since 2002.

Sharon Snell, the sister of the victim, has worked to keep Forsyth in the Montana State Prison since his first parole hearing 16 years ago. She called the Daily Inter Lake on Wednesday to report the board’s decision.

“We feel joy and relief,” Snell said. “I was expecting the opposite, but when I heard their decision it brought tears to my eyes. It’s a good day.”

Snell, who attended the hearing with her husband John and Flathead County attorney Ed Corrigan, said some board members told her that the outpouring of support that was shown in letters written to the board and Forsyth’s crimes were why he was denied parole.

Concerned that attention on the case would fade as the years went by and family members passed on, Snell made several public pleas asking people to write letters opposing Forsyth’s parole.

She said it will be five more years before Forsyth will be eligible for parole again.

“This isn’t something I thought I would have to go through every five years when he was put away,” Snell said. “I owe it to my parents and my sister to see he doesn’t get out of prison and hurt any more people,” Snell said. “He hasn’t even served a third of his sentence. He needs to stay where he is — in prison. And my family is still afraid of him.”

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.