Rapist from Box Captivity Faces Release

A California parole board will decide whether to release Richard Allen Davis, who kidnapped and raped 12-year-old Polly Klaas in 1993 before murdering her. Advocates and the victim's family oppose his freedom as a sexually violent predator. (patch.com) Davis faces a parole suitability hearing in the coming weeks at Coalinga State Hospital, where he's held under the state's sexually violent predator law. The law allows indefinite civil commitment for offenders deemed likely to reoffend after prison. (patch.com) Polly Klaas disappeared from her Petaluma home during a sleepover on October 1, 1993; Davis strangled her and buried her body in a shallow grave 40 miles away. He confessed after police found her red clothing in his car and received the death penalty in 1996. (sfchronicle.com) Davis has spent over 30 years on death row at San Quentin State Prison before transfer to Coalinga for evaluation as a sexually violent predator. California's Proposition 83, passed in 2006, expanded commitments to two-year terms with renewals if therapists find ongoing risk. (cdcr.ca.gov) Victim advocates, including Marc Klaas, Polly's father, rallied outside the Napa courthouse this week against the hearing. "Releasing this monster would be a betrayal of every child in California," Klaas said. (patch.com) The hearing coincides with Napa's wine-tasting season, drawing local protests amid the county's tourism events. Napa Superior Court handles the case due to its jurisdiction over Coalinga commitments. (napavalleyregister.com) California has committed over 800 sexually violent predators since 1996, with release rates below 10% after hearings. Only 30 have been unconditionally freed after treatment, per state data through 2025. (dsh.ca.gov) Davis' attorneys argue he completed sex offender treatment and shows low recidivism risk based on actuarial assessments. Hospital evaluators must testify on his progress before the board rules. (courts.ca.gov) The board denied Davis parole in 2023, citing his history of violence and poor impulse control. A new denial could extend commitment by two years; approval requires court approval for supervised release. (cdcr.ca.gov) Polly Klaas' case spurred the 1994 federal crime bill and California's three-strikes law, reshaping U.S. sentencing for repeat offenders. Her foundation continues advocating for child safety laws nationwide. (klaaskids.org) If released, Davis would enter lifetime GPS-monitored parole with residency restrictions near schools. The board's decision, expected within 60 days, faces automatic appeals from prosecutors. (patch.com)