BURBANK : Group Seeks to Block Parole for Ex-Officer

Key players in the conviction of a former Los Angeles police officer who killed two people in the 1960s kicked off what has become an annual campaign to block his parole on Wednesday.

Paul Perveler was convicted in 1969 of murdering his second wife and his mistress’ husband. He was also convicted of attempting to murder his first wife, Lela Halverson.

“It’s an ongoing nightmare,” said Halverson, who survived three murder attempts. “Every year I have to prepare for another parole hearing.”

Perveler’s next parole hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1.

And Halverson--along with Harry Strickland, the Burbank investigator who handled the case, former Los Angeles County prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, and state Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale)--held a news conference protesting parole for Perveler.

The event was held on Grismer Street Wednesday morning, in front of the apartment building where Perveler murdered his second wife, Cheryl.

Nolan said that, as he has in the past, he would mount a letter-writing campaign opposing parole for Perveler and testify at the December hearing.

Initially, Perveler was given the death penalty, but three years later the state Supreme Court ruled that punishment unconstitutional and the sentence was changed to life in prison.

“We’re talking about 100 years of life he’s snuffed out,” Bugliosi said, referring to the combined life expectancy of the two victims. “He’s served 25, and now he wants to get out. So his life is four times as valuable?”

Bugliosi, who also prosecuted Charles Manson, wrote “Till Death Us Do Part,” based on Perveler’s crimes.

“Here they were particularly brutal murders,” Bugliosi said. “The motive was the worst you could have--money.”

Perveler was convicted of the 1966 murder of Marlin Cromwell, in Los Angeles, and the 1968 murder of Cheryl Perveler. Both, Bugliosi said, were killed for insurance money.

Perveler had been a Los Angeles police officer in 1962-63, and later was a private investigator and insurance adjuster. He used his experience in law enforcement to help cover his tracks, Bugliosi said.

“He almost pulled off the perfect crime,” said Bugliosi. Investigators had little evidence until Perveler and his girlfriend went to Las Vegas to spend the insurance money. He had not learned enough lessons about crime to get away with it, Strickland said.

“From my experience, you don’t learn everything you would need to know in a year and a half,” Strickland said. “He couldn’t wait to start spending his money from the insurance.”