Our family kindly asks for your support to implore the Ohio Parole Board to deny parole to cop killer Joseph McDonald, who on April 7, 1969, murdered Cleveland Police Detective John R. Apanites, Jr. - a husband, father, brother, uncle and son as well as a friend to many. In 1972, McDonald's sentence was commuted to 15 years to life after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional. This will be his 7th attempt at seeking release. We are requesting that he be denied parole and not be allowed any further consideration for at least ten more years. We thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Jackie (Apanites) Hlivak (widow)

John Apanites (son)

Barb Apanites (daughter)

Letters, emails and faxes may also be sent to the Ohio Parole Board as follows. Please remember to include inmate name and number: Joseph McDonald [A129651]. 

By mail to:

Office of Victim Services

4545 Fisher Rd. Suite D

Columbus, OH 43228

 

By email to:  DRC.Victim.Services@odrc.state.oh.us

or to 

Kristen.Arapp@odrc.state.oh.us

By fax to:   614.728.1980

On April 7, 1969, Cleveland Ohio Police Detective John Apanites and Patrolman John M. McNamara were working special duty at Petrie’s Dress Shop. During their shift they apprehended two suspected shoplifters. While waiting for police to arrive one of the shoplifters, Joseph McDonald, attacked Patrolman McNamara and stole his gun. McDonald shot Patrolman McNamara in the stomach and then shot detective Apanites twice in the chest and once in the back killing him. McDonald was sentenced to death for his horrific crimes. However a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1972 converted his sentence to life in prison with parole eligibility. Sadly, prior to this murder, McDonald had been released on bond following a March 10, 1969, armed robbery and kidnapping crime spree. His next parole hearing is scheduled for December 2020.