The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Convicted killer up for parole again
Victim’s parents working to prevent release
The murderer of slain Willoughby teen Christie Montrella will be up for a second parole hearing this summer.
The victim’s parents, Jan and Dennis Montrella, are already working to keep Donato Lombardozzi in his cell at the Marion Correctional Institution.
Sixteen-year-old Christie’s body was found Oct. 20, 1988, in the brush of Interstate 271 in Highland Heights.
Lombardozzi, the victim’s co-worker at Master Pizza in Willoughby, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 30 years after pleading guilty to her kidnapping and murder. However, after earning credits at prison for “good behavior,” the former Mayfield Heights man became eligible for early release.
In 2008, Lombardozzi was denied parole. The Montrellas credited massive community and police support with keeping their daughter’s killer behind bars.
Ten years ago, the family traveled to Columbus with 13,500 paper and online signatures from people nationwide who signed a petition arguing against parole.
Now that Lombardozzi, now 56, is slated to meet in August with the Ohio Parole Board again, the victim’s family — who still live in the same Willoughby home — is once again counting on that support with a new petition.
“We’re worried he may get out this time,” said Jan Montrella. “The petition is up and running, and there are already over a thousand signatures. The community here is fantastic. It’s like it happened to them. The support we’ve received from the community? I don’t know if we could have survived without it.”
Christie was a junior at Willoughby South High School. Her body was found five days after she never came home from her shift. She was beaten, strangled and stabbed.
The Montrellas said they appreciate the comments they’ve already received on the petition, such as one from Albert Pugel, a retired Willougbhy detective who helped investigate the killing.
“Mr. Lombardozzi was a lucky man when his life was spared and he needs to be right where he is forever,” wrote Pugel.
Erin Davis of Austin, Texas, wrote that she’ll never forget the memory of seeing her father cry for the first time when she was 12 when he heard the news that his best friend’s daughter was murdered.
“As a child, I could not even begin to understand why tragedies like this happen,” Davis said. “Now, as an adult, I’ve dedicated my life to fighting for crime victims. As the managing attorney of a statewide crime victims legal program, I would be remiss not to speak up for this family who has lost the life of their precious daughter. Men like Donato belong behind bars and families like the Montrellas deserve the peace that his incarceration brings.”