1979 BOARDMAN SLAYING Man who murdered wife to be released from prison

Masters has had a clean disciplinary record in prison.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A man convicted in the 1979 killing of his wife and the attempted cover-up of her death will be released from state prison this fall.
Steven Masters, 45, is eligible for parole on or after Oct. 11 as determined by the Ohio Parole Board Monday, said a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Sentenced in 1980
Masters, who is being held in the Pickaway Correctional Institution in Orient, Ohio, was sentenced in 1980 to life in prison for the slaying of his wife, Jodi, and six to 25 years for the attempt to cover up the crime.
Investigators said Masters, convicted of aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the death, set fire to the couple's Boardman home to cover up the fatal shooting of his wife, who was discovered in a bedroom.
Motive
Authorities said they believed Masters killed Jodi because he wanted to collect money from a large insurance policy on her.
According to the parole board, Masters hasn't had any disciplinary infractions since he's been an inmate and had no prior criminal history.
Members of Jodi Masters' family couldn't immediately be reached to comment on the parole board's decision.
Previously, however, they have said that Masters should be denied parole because he's a double felon and that his attack was unprovoked.