Baby Killer

Parole Board Rules

During the interview, the parole commissioners emphasized Tinning's apparent lack of remorse and her insistence that she simply does not remember what happened to Tami Lynne. "You were found guilty of causing the death of your infant daughter by asphyxiation. The victim was vulnerable and totally reliant on you for love, care and safety....you stated that during the interview that you could not believe that you would harm your child but could not recall exactly what occurred....you appear to have little insight into your crime and display little remorse. You have absolved yourself of responsibility."

Marybeth Tinning

The parole board takes several factors into consideration, including the inmate's understanding of the crime, remorse, responsibility and rehabilitation. Tinning failed on all those points. "Your depraved indifference to human life leads this panel to conclude your release is incompatible with the welfare of society. To release you would deprecate the serious nature of this crime...parole is denied."

The Schenectady County District Attorney's Office has not actively investigated the baffling case in many years. Detectives have long ago moved on to other assignments, pursuant to the demands of the office. But the statute of limitations never expires on murder. It is the only crime in which the books are never officially closed. However, since all the available evidence has been collected in the Tinning case and there are no new leads to follow, a prosecution for the remaining seven deaths does not seem feasible. And unless Marybeth suddenly confesses to what many investigators feel they already know, that she killed all eight of her children, one of America's strangest murder cases will remain unsolved.

Tinning is up for parole again in March 2009.