Mother of slain woman fights parole

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 11:13 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A woman whose daughter was stabbed to death in Clark County says she has gathered 28,000 signatures of people opposed to the release of convicted murderer Simon Macias.

Macias is scheduled to make his third appearance before the state Parole Board Monday. During its meeting in Carson City, the board will interview Macias via a teleconference with Lovelock where the inmate is in prison.

Carol Nicoletti said she will present her petition to the board during the meeting. Macias was sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing death of his 19-year-old wife, Susan Figeley Macias. He wrapped her body in duct tape and dumped her in the desert near Henderson.

He pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in 1993. As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors dropped two charges of lewdness with girls under the age of 14 brought against Macias after investigators found film in his car with pictures of the girls.

Nicoletti said she gathered 13,500 signatures opposing parole when Macias appeared the first time before the board in 1997 and then picked up 18,000 signatures at his second appearance in 2000.

She said the 28,000 signatures this time are new names that she gathered either through the Internet or through personal contact.

Nicoletti said the investigation into the killing was botched and Macias should have been convicted of first-degree murder. She said she wants to see him spend the rest of his life in prison.