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Washington, DC --- Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a senior member of the Florida Congressional Delegation, sent a letter to the State of Georgia Parole Board to keep Shannon Melendi’s kidnapper, rapist, and murderer Colvin "Butch" C. Hinton, III behind bars. "Butch" was found guilty of murdering the South Florida teen in 2005 and is currently in jail, but his parole is up in 2011. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has sent letters to the Victim Services Office requesting that this ruthless killer must not be let out of prison. 

Shannon Melendi was 19-years-old when she vanished.  She had attended Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen’s alma-mater, Southwest Senior High, and was a very intelligent and highly motivated individual. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at Emory University Shannon also worked as a part-time softball scorekeeper. Shannon went missing during her lunch break on Saturday, March 26, 1994 and was never seen again.

Often joined by the Melendi family, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has helped to share Shannon’s story and educate students on how to stay safe at schools around the community.

"Butch" was already a convicted sexual predator with a three-time record of kidnapping, assault and rape before committing the same atrocious crimes against Shannon.  Unfortunately after three convictions, "Butch" was still released from jail. The petition Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen asks that Colvin "Butch" C. Hinton, III not be released from prison, so that our communities can be safe from this dangerous predator.  

PETITION TO DENY PAROLE
 
 Victim Services Office
State Board of Pardons—Paroles
2 M.L. King, Jr. Drive, SE                  Re: Parole Hearings for:
Suite 458, East Tower                          Colvin C. Hinton, III
Atlanta GA, 30334                               GDC ID # 0001201616
 
 
Dear Parole Board:
 
Please deny parole to Colvin C. Hinton, III.  He is a sexual predator.  He kidnapped, raped and murdered Shannon Melendi.  Since the day of her disappearance, her parents, sister, and my South Florida community have struggled to become whole.  Colvin C. Hinton, III must not be let out of prison. 
 
Shannon Melendi was a 19-year-old girl who grew up in South Florida.  She was her high school’s junior and senior class president, she was a soccer player, a Legal Eagle, she spoke before the UN and the US Congress, and she was so much more.  Her goals were to be a Navy JAG attorney and one day serve as a Justice on the United States Supreme Court.  She won a scholarship to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and was working as scorekeeper at a softball game when she vanished during her lunch break on Saturday, March 26, 1994.  Her mistake was to have let her guard down around the umpire at the game, Colvin C. “Butch” Hinton, III. 
 
Hinton was a sexual predator who knew how to blend in amongst us. He appeared to be a church-going family man, but Colvin C. Hinton, III, had a three-time record of kidnapping, assault and rape, including on members of his own family, before Shannon.  One of his victims was 14-year-old Tammy Singleton, he kidnapped her, tied her up in his basement and as he tried to attack the girl, his first-wife walked in on him.  If he had been kept in prison, Shannon would be alive today.
 
In 2005, Hinton was found GUILTY of murdering Shannon Melendi.   Though he has since confessed to kidnapping, brutally raping, and murdering Shannon, her body has not been recovered.  Hinton was sentenced to life in prison, with a chance for parole.  Please do not let this murderer out of prison.  Please give Shannon’s family, friends, and my community peace of mind, to know that her killer will remain behind bars where he rightfully belongs.  
 
I respectfully request you deny parole to kidnapper, rapist, and murderer, Colvin C. “Butch” Hinton, III (GDC ID #0001201616).
 
                                                                                 
Sincerely,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen