Jason Adam Greenwell prepares to read a letter of apology he wrote to the family of Dystiny Myers in court in 2013. He has been granted parole a second time, but governor could block his release.
Jason Adam Greenwell prepares to read a letter of apology he wrote to the family of Dystiny Myers in court in 2013. He has been granted parole a second time, but governor could block his release.

One of the men convicted of murdering 15-year-old Dystiny Myers of Santa Maria was granted parole suitability for the second time on Thursday, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Jason Adam Greenwell was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of Myers in Nipomo. Her body was found beaten and partially burned near Santa Margarita Lake.

Greenwell was one of four people convicted of the Santa Maria teenager’s murder, along with Ty Michael Hill, Frank Jacob York, Rhonda Wisto and Cody Miller.

Greenwell was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison, and became eligible for parole in January 2021, according to records from the corrections department.

He was first granted parole suitability Nov. 18, 2021, but Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed the decision in March 29, 2022, after the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office sent a letter to the governor requesting Greenwell stay in prison.

Dystiny Myers, 15, of Santa Maria.
Dystiny Myers, 15, of Santa Maria was found beaten to death and her body partially burned in Santa Margarita on Sept. 26, 2010. Five people were convicted of murder in her death.

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow called the decision to grant Greenwell parole the first time “improper.”

Dow told The Tribune he intends to send another letter to Newsom asking to reverse the decision yet again.

“We are disappointed with the Parole Board commissioner’s decision to release Jason Greenwell from prison because in our opinion he currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released,” Dow said in a statement to The Tribune.

The parole board finding Greenwell suitable for release from prison does not guarantee he will be granted freedom.

Under California law, the proposal must now undergo a 150-day review period that Newsom will ultimately review.

Newsom can choose to uphold, reverse or modify the decision, or he can send it back to the full board or take no action.

Greenwell is imprisoned at the California Institution for Men in Chino. Under California state law, people imprisoned for violent crimes can receive 33% custody credit for each day served for good behavior.