Steven Burns was denied parole for a fifth time in January 2025, nearly 46 years after he murdered his former girlfriend Catina Salarno on a California college campus.
Burns shot the 18-year-old University of the Pacific freshman in the back of the head on September 1979 after she refused to resume their relationship. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1980 and sentenced to 17 years to life.
The Salarno family has attended every parole hearing since 1990 to oppose his release. At the 13th hearing, commissioners cited Burns' continued minimization of the crime and his failure to show meaningful change despite decades in prison.
Burns will next appear before the board in 2030. His supporters argued that his age and participation in rehabilitation programs supported release, but the panel rejected those claims.
