Family urges denial of parole for Marsha Norris's killer Ivan Wise

The Louisiana Board of Pardons and Parole convened on February 3, 2025, to hear emotional testimonies regarding the parole eligibility of Ivan Wise, convicted of the brutal murder of Marsha Norris in 1976. Family members of the victim expressed their deep anguish and urged the board to deny Wise's release, emphasizing the lasting trauma inflicted on their lives.

Marsha's sister poignantly recounted the horrific details of her sibling's murder, describing how Marsha was beaten, strangled, and ultimately shot. She highlighted the pain of losing her sister at just 23 years old, leaving behind two young sons who were deprived of their mother's presence. "My heart has been broken every day since April 3, 1976," she stated, underscoring the emotional toll the tragedy has taken on her family.

Dane Kennedy, a family member, echoed these sentiments, stating that the trauma resurfaces every three years during parole hearings. He criticized Wise for showing no remorse or accountability for his actions, asserting that sociopathy does not disappear. "The criminal justice system did its job," he noted, but emphasized the need for Wise to remain incarcerated.

Susan Frierson, another family member and the person who discovered Marsha was missing, shared her harrowing experience of searching for her niece. She described the shock of learning that Marsha had not returned home after a night out and the subsequent heartbreak when her body was found in the bayou days later.

The testimonies presented during the hearing painted a vivid picture of the pain and loss experienced by Marsha's family, reinforcing their plea for justice and the importance of keeping Wise behind bars. As the board deliberates, the emotional weight of these accounts serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of violent crime on victims' families.