Gay Bashing Murderer Granted Parole; In 1999 Jon Buice Among Ten Teens Who Savagely Beat And Killed 27 Year Old Paul Broussard; Buice Took Knife To Broussard And “Gutted Him Like A Deer”

Jon Buice will be released from prison for the 1991 hate crime killing of Paul Broussard, KHOU-TV reporting that the parole board granted his request on Tuesday Buice and 9 other teens known as "The Woodlands Ten" brutally murdered Broussard in what would become Houston's most infamous gay-bashing hate crime. "They chased down Paul and two of his friends," remembered crime victim advocate Andy Kahan in 2009. "They beat him. They hit him with boards. They kicked him with steel-toe boots. Then, finally, Jon Buice pulled out a knife and basically gutted him like a deer." Buice was sentenced to 45 years in prison and was the last of Broussard's killers still serving time. Broussard's mother, Nancy Rodriguez, flew to Houston last month to plead with the parole board to keep Buice behind bars. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles says the victim’s family has been notified of the decision, noting the reasons for his parole: “Institutional Adjustment- Although Mr. Buice has had several minor violations and a couple of major violations during the past 19 years, he is currently classified as a State Approved Trusty (SAT) 3. Participation in TDCJ-ID Programs-Mr. Buice has completed several college degrees and numerous other vocational type courses during his incarceration. Mr. Buice was only 17 years of age at the time of the Instant Offense. Additionally, Mr. Buice will have the following Special Conditions upon release: Maximum level of Supervision; Substance Abuse Treatment; Electronic Monitoring; No contact with Victim; and No contact with Co-Defendants.” Buice had an unlikely advocate on his side: gay activist Ray Hill believes Buice has been rehabilitated. Hill once served time in prison and met Buice through his prison radio show."I have successfully done time. So I am showing him how to do time. Meanwhile, I am plumbing his mind for any sign of homophobia and I don't find it," said Ray Hill in 2009.