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Parole was denied Wednesday for a man who murdered an Oregon State Trooper in Knappa more than 30 years ago.

Michael Sture, 54, has never apologized for the murder of Sgt. James Shepherd. He did not attend his hearing.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Brown said the parole board's decision was no surprise. At his last parole board hearing, Sture spoke openly of his crime, saying he "had to kill Shepherd."

"He has shown no remorse for killing an innocent man," Brown said.
Brown called the murder a senseless "thrill kill."

Sture ambushed and shot Shepherd because he feared the trooper would find his marijuana grow operation in the woods. Once he killed Shepherd, Sture stole his vehicle to escape.

He was later arrested hitchhiking near Bend.

Mel Jasmin, a retired Astoria Police Department officer, worked the forest after the murder to track down Sture. He coordinates the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, which is named after Shepherd.

The murder had a lasting impact on law enforcement in the county, he said.

"It was very shocking. I can't remember a death like that. What got everybody so upset was that he was ambushed," Jasmin said. "We were all on edge for a long time. If it happened then, it could happen again."