BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The California Board of Parole Hearings has once again denied parole to Mark Tedeschi, the man convicted of murdering his ex-father-in-law, Robert Glynn Leisten, in 1995.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office announced the decision, stating that Tedeschi continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety. Tedeschi was previously denied parole in June 2024.
On Nov. 10, 1995, Tedeschi shot Leisten in front of his 10-year-old daughter after a series of threatening calls to his ex-wife. The incident occurred when Leisten arrived to pick up his granddaughter for a weekend visit. Tedeschi was found guilty of second-degree murder in 1999 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
During Tedeschi’s seventh parole hearing on Jan. 7, 2026, commissioners focused on his credibility, history of domestic violence, and the circumstances of the murder. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office urged the board to deny parole, and the commissioners agreed, issuing a three-year denial. Tedeschi’s next parole hearing could be in 18 months.
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District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer stated, “Tedeschi committed an unspeakable crime, escalating a domestic violence situation into a fatal act of family violence. His actions reflected the most extreme abuse of control and power, and his release would pose a serious risk to our community. I am relieved that after seven hearings, the Board of Parole has continuously agreed with our position.”