Oct. 3, 2000
"AND WHERE A LOT
OF PEOPLE TURN TO
DRUGS, CODY
TURNED TO THE
SCRIPTURES AND
RELIGION, AND BASICALLY OVERDOSED."
Friends say it's time for Cody Judy to be released
from prison. And he told the parole board he's
changed the religious views that got him into so much
trouble so long ago.
Cody Judy has been behind bars almost continuously
since 1993. That's when he terrorized thousands of
students at B.Y.U.
A parole hearing was held for Judy this morning at the
Utah State Prison. News Specialist John Hollenhorst
was there.
During an LDS gathering seven years ago, Judy
stunned thousands of students by jumping to the stage,
and holding a cell-phone to the head of a Mormon
church leader.
At the time, Judy claimed it was a
bomb, and demanded President Howard Hunter read
a religious tract Judy had written.
Today, Judy told the parole board he no longer holds
the same religious views. But he tried to underplay the
religious motive.
He blamed the B.Y.U. incident on
personal stress and anger after the church refused his
request for financial aid.
CODY JUDY/PRISON INMATE: "BUT I CAN
CERTAINLY TELL YOU IN MY HEART THAT
I INTENDED NO HARM TO PRESIDENT
HUNTER. AND THAT I REGARD THE
CHURCH AUTHORITIES AS GREAT MEN WHO
HAVE DONE A GREAT SERVICE FOR THE
COMMUNITY. MY SAYING QUOTE-UNQUOTE
'I WANT TO LEAD THE CHURCH' WAS
MORE OF A SPOOF, ON A POLICY THAT I
FELT HAD BEEN UNFAIR TO ME."
Judy blamed the media for overhyping the religious
motive.
But when it was pointed out that his writings
contained similar statements, he quickly said he no
longer believes he has a calling from God to lead any
church.
He also promised never to use violence.
The
board should decide later this month whether to set a
date for early parole.
