Daughter of Fallen NY Trooper Thought Killer Would Never Leave Prison

On Oct. 24, 1974, her father - New York State Trooper Emerson Dillon - was shot and killed after stopping a speeding car along the Thruway near Canastota. Two men in the car had just robbed a jewelry store in DeWitt.

Patty Dillon Giarrusso, 55, clearly remembers the horror of the day her father was killed, even though it's been more than 40 years and she was only 12 at the time.

On Oct. 24, 1974, her father -  New York State Trooper Emerson Dillon - was shot and killed after stopping a speeding car along the Thruway near Canastota. Two men in the car had just robbed a jewelry store in DeWitt.

His killer, John Ruzas, was sentenced to  25 years to life for the murder.

On Monday, Ruzas was scheduled to get out of Fishkill Correctional Facility.

"I'm just filled with disbelief that his release is even being considered,'' Dillon Giarrusso told Syracuse.com this week. "We always hold our breath every time there's a parole hearing - and there's been 11 - but we always figured he'd never get out.

"The fact they they're going to let him out is very, very upsetting,'' she said. "It's like going through the whole thing again."

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