SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF SARAH JAMISON ISSUE STATEMENTS ON
VA PAROLE BOARD’S DECISION TO RELEASE GREGORY JOYNER
On November 23, 2020, the surviving family members of Sarah Jamison were informed that the Virginia Parole Board granted parole to Sarah’s killer, Gregory Joyner. Joyner was convicted by a jury on April 5, 1989 of the first-degree murder and attempted rape of Jamison that occurred in the City of Lynchburg. Joyner admitted that he strangled Jamison to death on May 15, 1988 after he claimed he had consensual sex with her. He then buried her body in a wooded area near her parent’s home. Sarah’s remains were found 2 weeks after the killing. On June 9, 1989, Joyner was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison, the maximum sentences for the offenses of first-degree murder and attempted rape respectively.
Joyner was considered for parole in the past but was denied by the Virginia Parole Board. In June 2017 the parole board denied him due to his “extensive criminal record, history of violence, and release at the time would diminish the serious nature of his offenses.” When the Virginia Parole Board considered Joyner for parole in May 2019, the board came to the same conclusion that he should be denied parole based again on the “serious nature of the offenses, release at that time would diminish the seriousness of his crimes, and the board concluded that he should serve more of his sentence.” A year and half after that determination with a new Virginia Parole Board membership appointed by Governor Ralph Northam, Joyner, who is 48 years old, was granted parole.
Upon receiving the news that Joyner will be released, the surviving members of Sarah Jamison’s family expressed shock, grief, and a sense of injustice. Dell Jamison, Sarah’s father stated:
When Joyner murdered Sarah it was for life. Why should he be released after only serving a part of his life? His sentence was for punishment not rehabilitation therefore he still has 30 or 40 years left on his sentence. His release is a big mistake. He is also a registered sex offender. If he was sentenced today, he would never get out of prison. Joyner has not expressed remorse to my knowledge. When he was photographed going to trial for the murder and rape of Sarah, he smiled and said “get my good side.” He needs to stay in prison for the good of the community, where ever goes.
BETHANY A. S. HARRISON
Commonwealth’s Attorney
COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
(434) 455-3778
E-MAIL ADDRESS
BHARRISON@OCALYNCHBURG.COM
OFFICE OF THE
COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG
MONUMENT TERRACE BUILDING
901 CHURCH STREET
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24504
(434) 455-3760
FAX (434) 846-5038
WWW.OCALYNCHBURG.COM
Sarah’s sister Renee Knight, brother-in-law Jeff Knight, and niece Jessica Collins issued a joint statement:
The recent decision to grant parole to Greg Joyner has come as a heart shattering blow to our family. When he took my sister Sarah from us, we thought that justice would be done when he was placed behind bars. It is with heartbreaking remorse that we hear he will soon be released from prison. We cannot put into words the amount of pain, suffering, and unending grief he has caused our family. Not a day goes past that we do not think of the amazing woman Sarah would have become. He had robbed us of a lifetime of memories and relationships we will now never get to have. To think, now, the man who stole all of this from us will be set free is a grave injustice to her memory.
Sarah’s other sister Stacey Gallier stated:
After my sister was murdered there was a major effect on our lives. I watched my parents crying, having to take prescriptions to try and face another day without their daughter. I would replay in my mind the last time I saw her, never being able to get that day back. Hearing about Gregory Joyner being let out of jail because he has been rehabilitated is like a punch in the stomach! Why does he deserve to live a normal life when he literally took my sister’s life? Just because she didn’t want to be with him the way he wanted!
Stacey’s husband Darrel Gallier, Sarah’s brother-in-law, gave his thoughts:
How did the parole board come up with the decision that this rapist and murderer has been rehabilitated? When you have an individual that lures a 15-year-old girl from her home in the middle of the night rapes her, strangles the life out of her, and buries her in a shallow grave in the woods beside her home (not to be found for almost 3 weeks) and when he was caught was found with different girls’ panties between the mattress in his bed room, he is a danger to the young girls and should never get the chance to do this again to another young lady. He is a predator and I do not see any rehabilitation for that kind of behavior. I have a close relative that is in prison right now on marijuana charges and has already served 4 years out of 6 years and there is no talk about giving him early parole but we can let murderers back out on the street. This is just nonsense.
Bethany Harrison, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Lynchburg commented:
My heart goes out to Sarah’s family as they have been forced into a lifetime of reliving the pain and trauma that Gregory Joyner caused them. They experienced the rigors of trial and were granted some relief at his conviction and sentence to life in prison. Now the family must experience a new trauma. That is knowing that at 48 years old Joyner will once again be free to walk the streets of the Commonwealth while they will never enjoy the company of their loved one again. A life sentence should have given this family the closure they deserved. Instead, a wound has been reopened by the Virginia Parole Board. We will never know the reasons why the Virginia Parole Board granted Joyner parole as they are not required to give the public reasons for the release of a murderer. Given the multitude of problems victims of crime have suffered at the hands of this parole board this year, transparency and accountability are needed.
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