CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that the Ohio Parole Board voted to deny parole and the Ohio Supreme Court ruled to dismiss an appeal for convicted murderer Shannon Kidd, 43.

“We applaud the Ohio Parole Board and the Ohio Supreme Court’s decisions to deny parole and to dismiss the appeal. The brutal kidnapping and murder of Mary Jo Pesho horrified this community. This demon should spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

In 1996, Shannon Kidd and Mark DiMarco approached the victim, 46-year-old Mary Jo Pesho, as she was walking to her vehicle outside the Parmatown Mall. Before she could reach her van, Kidd and DiMarco forced her into her vehicle. After, they sexually assaulted her, robbed her, and shot her before leaving her and her van at a Cleveland Rapid-Transit Station. Two days later, she was found at the transit station and pronounced deceased.

On March 4, 1998, Shannon Kidd pleaded guilty to:

• One Count of Aggravated murder
• One Count of Kidnapping
• Two Counts of Rape
• One Count of Aggravated Robbery
• One Count of Carrying Concealed Weapons
• One Count of Gross Abuse of Corpse

On June 6, 1998, Kidd was sentenced to life in prison with the first eligibility for parole after 40 years. In 2020, Kidd then filed a delayed appeal stating he was serving the wrong sentence.

As a result of Senate Bill 256, Kidd became eligible for parole after serving 25 years. In January 2022, he was eligible for parole for the first time. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office objected to his release based on the nature of the crime he committed. In February 2022, the Ohio Parole Board Committee voted to deny his parole.

On January 26, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court held a hearing on Kidd’s delayed appeal. On February 16, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed his appeal.

According to the Ohio Parole Board, Kidd is next eligible for parole in 2026.