A 1989 parole board transcript from the state division of parole shows Spengler was questioned about the 1980 attack on his grandmother who was 93. Rose Spengler was hit in the head with a hammer as many as 13 times.

When he was asked if he could explain why he killed his grandmother, Spengler responded, "You can't explain it. It's impossible. I mean, it's something that's still beyond my comprehension."

Spengler went on to tell the parole board, "That's the thing that does worry me in terms of you're capable of it once, are you capable of it again."

Spengler was denied parole four times before being released from state prison in 1998 after serving 17 years.

Parole transcripts

William Spengler - 1989

William Spengler - 1991

William Spengler - 1993

William Spengler - 1995