Killer of Opry star Stringbean, wife gets parole

NASHVILLE -- The killer who murdered beloved Hee Haw and country music star  David (Stringbean) Akeman and his wife, Estelle, in 1973 has finally been granted parole. A Tennessee Board of Parole panel released John A. Brown after almost 40 years in jail. Brown and his cousin Doug went down for murder after cold-bloodedly ambushing the pair on Nov. 10, 1973. They shot Strongbean to death as he entered the cabin just hours after performing at the Grand Ole Opry. It was rumoured the country star kept wads of cash in the modest cabin 20 minutes from Nashville. His wife was shot in the head when she tried to run.
Country star  Jean Shepard was bitter about the release: "Why should they turn him loose? He cold-bloodedly killed two friends of ours." MORE IN THE TENNESSEAN and a good backgrounder on the case HERE.