NATION : Prisoner-Release Program Halted

Gov. Evan Bayh today suspended a state prison-release program after an inmate who was in prison for beating his ex-wife was charged with killing her while on an eight-hour pass.

“Clearly, mistakes were made, there’s no doubt about that, and I’m good and mad about it,” Bayh said. Bayh’s office said no inmate involved in the furlough program will receive a pass for the next four weeks while corrections officials review the policy and report to the governor. Alan Matheney, 38, was charged with murdering his ex-wife, Lisa Marie Bianco, 29, on Saturday in Mishawaka. He had been serving an eight-year sentence for beating Bianco two years ago.