(Woodland, CA) – June 13, 2025 On June 11, 2025, a two-commissioner panel of the Board of Parole Hearings denied parole to 47-year-old Gregory McKay who was sentenced to prison for 88 years-to-life in 2004. At the time of the crime, McKay was a resident of Sacramento. The hearing commissioners were Robert Barton and Kathleen Newman. The hearing took place at Mule Creek State Prison where McKay is serving his time.
On September 1, 2001, West Sacramento police officers were dispatched to a home in West Sacramento in reference to a possible assault with a deadly weapon. The victim stated he was inside the residence when a vehicle pulled into the driveway and continued past his house. The vehicle went to the end of the street, turned around, and headed back towards the house at a high rate of speed. The victim walked outside and was standing on the front lawn when three males exited the vehicle and walked towards him. He later identified the three suspects including Gregory McKay. McKay walked straight towards him, and the others circled around him. He felt as though he could not escape. McKay pulled a knife from his front right pocket and opened it. He made two swinging motions with the knife in an attempt to cut the victim in the stomach area. The victim stepped backwards to avoid being cut. McKay said, “I will slice you and stick you right here.” McKay then made threats to shoot by saying “I will blast your ass.” The trunk of the vehicle was open, and the victim was unsure if there was a gun inside. The victim’s mother, who was also outside, indicated she was going to call police, and the men left the scene. The victim obtained the vehicle’s license plate number. Two hours later, officers were dispatched to a brandishing of a firearm call involving a matching vehicle. The three subjects were located leaving an apartment complex, McKay was driving. He showed objective signs of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and breathalyzer test results were .206 BAC. The victim positively identified McKay. A knife was recovered from inside the vehicle and was also identified by the victim.
Prior to the beginning of the hearing, the representatives for the People and for Mr. McKay were notified that Mr. McKay recently tested positive for a controlled substance and that along with other rule violations, Mr. McKay was offered the opportunity to stipulate to unsuitability for a period of 5 years. McKay exercised his right to have a hearing. After a nearly two-hour hearing, the commissioners determined that Mr. McKay still poses a continued risk to public safety should he be released from prison. The commissioners noted his 11 rule violations in the past year and the lack of positive programming. In fact, the commissioners noted that Mr. McKay’s conduct in the past five years demonstrated that he was going backwards in his rehabilitative progress. The commissioners then determined that the period of denial would be 7 years.
This was Mr. McKay’s second parole hearing. His first was held in July of 2020 and the period of denial was five years. Yolo County Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Melinda Aiello represented the Yolo District Attorney’s Office at the hearing.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig commented on the parole denial: “Our office is committed to representing the interests of victims’ families and public safety at these parole hearings, and when it’s appropriate we argue against the release of inmates who are a danger to the public.” McKay will be eligible for parole again in 2032.
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