East Bay woman to go free in 1989 killing of stepdad

SACRAMENTO — An East Bay woman convicted of bludgeoning her stepfather to death with a lead pipe will leave prison 32 years after the killing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom granted commutation Friday for Teresa Paulinkonis, who killed her stepfather in San Leandro on New Year’s Eve 1989. The order reduces her sentence and makes Paulinkonis immediately eligible for release on parole.

Newsom’s order states that Paulinkonis, who was 24 at the time of the killing, has “worked hard to better herself ” during her time in prison. She earned an associate degree and guards praised her good behavior, the governor said.

“The act of clemency for Ms. Paulinkonis does not minimize or forgive her conduct or the harm it caused,” Newsom said in a statement. “It does recognize the work she has done since to transform herself.”

Prosecutors said Paulinkonis and her mother first sought to kill the stepfather, 67yearold Paul Paulinkonis, by serving him meatloaf and cocktails laced with oleander, a poisonous plant, thinking it might kill him and leave no trace.

He got sick for a short time and recovered. Authorities said Teresa Paulinkonis then attacked her stepfather with a lead pipe while he watched television, beating him to death. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.

Advocates and friends have been working to free her for years, saying many details of the case weren’t fully vetted at trial.

Paulinkonis’ attorney, Lilli Paratore, told the Appeal that Paulinkonis had been sexually abused by her stepfather for many years. Paratore said the state clemency board had not given appropriate weight to that factor.

Elayne Clift, a friend and supporter of Paulinkonis’, has corresponded with her for 28 years. Clift said a network of women from around the world has been fighting for her release.

“You have to look at women’s experiences through the lens of gender, because context is everything,” Clift said. “She’s really an amazing woman and this has been a really long journey for her.”

Newsom’s commutation statement made no mention of abuse allegations against the stepfather. The governor wrote that he concluded Paulinkonis, now 57, was ready for parole after considering her youth at the time of the crime, positive conduct in prison and preparedness to reenter society.