A Danville man who has served 46 years in prison has been released on parole.
67-year-old Danny Lillard was released from state prison on Monday. He had been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for the December 2, 1976 beating death of Mary Huffman in a store she owned on West English Street in Danville.
Lillard, who was 23 years old at the time of the murder, was convicted of beating Mrs. Huffman with a tire iron during a robbery attempt.
The Illinois Prisoner Review Board granted Lillard parole during a hearing last month.
Mrs. Huffman’s family had consistently spoken out against Lillard’s release from prison for several years. Her daughter told the prisoner review board at a hearing earlier this year that she has forgiven Lillard but is frustrated that the crime has had to be brought up several times after the family was initially told there would be no chance of parole.
