FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 9, 2008

Parole Commission denies relief in Chipley murder

State Attorney Steve Meadows announces that the Florida Parole Commission denied relief in the case of Judith Loren.

Loren, WF, DOB: 11-12-1948, was convicted in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her estranged husband, Buddy Cummings. Also convicted and sentenced to life were gunman Wesley Briggs and Dean Wilson. Trial testimony revealed that Loren offered to pay Briggs $40,000 for an expected double indemnity life insurance policy on Cummings.

The parole examiner recommended that Loren be paroled in June, 2009.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Loren’s daughter, grandson, and stepdaughter testified that Loren was remorseful and would have made different decisions if given the chance.

Two of Cummings’ brothers, a sister, and Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Joe Grammer spoke against parole. Grammer called Loren "the but-for companion" to Briggs and Wilson and added that she was "the impetus, the organizer, and the proximate cause of this murder."

The Commissioners disregarded the recommendation of the examiner and set a presumptive parole date of May 31, 2043. The Commission will review the case, along with those of Briggs and Wilson, in October, 2012. Briggs has a presumptive date in 2059; Wilson in 2063.