The relatives of a pizza deliveryman believed killed by Evan Ebel, the same man suspected of killing Colorado's prison chief, Tom Clements say the court's apology for a clerical error that led to the suspect early release is hardly an excuse, CNN reported.
"Clerical error ain't going to bring my husband back," Nathan Leon's widow told CNN affiliate KUSA. "[It] ain't going to bring Tom Clements back. It's not going to bring my children's father back. How do I tell my 4-year-old (that) daddy was murdered because of a clerical error?"
Ebel. released from prison in January, four years earlier than he supposed to, is the chief suspect in killing Clements. Authorities have said there is a "strong connection" between that killing and the murder of Leon, who was found dead in suburban Golden, Colorado.Clements was shot to death at his home outside Colorado Springs on March 19. Ebel was killed two days later in norther Texas in a gun battle with authorities that left a sheriff's deputy wounded.
Court officials failed to notify the state Department of Corrections that Ebel was supposed to serve two consecutive four-year terms for assaulting a prison guard, leading to the department to accidentally let him out early.
"The district has undertaken a review of its practices in an effort to avoid a re-occurrence of this circumstance," the courts said in a statement.
"The court regrets this oversight and extends condolences to the families of Mr. Nathan Leon and Mr. Tom Clements."
Leon's mother-in-law, Bernadette Alness, told KUSA that someone should "stand up and be accountable."
"I don't mean by saying 'we send condolences,'" she said. "Who is going to stand up and be accountable to my daughter? To my grandchildren?"
"I suggest everyone should be careful about what goes on
