Parole denied for Modesto man who killed his mother

A 65-year-old Modesto man convicted of killing his mother after she caught him stealing from her has been denied parole, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

In January 2003, Charles Wayne Lairson was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2001 death of his mother, 68-year-old Dora Lairson. He was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.

Lairson was found unsuitable for parole at an April 12 hearing at Corcoran State Prison in Kings County. Deputy District Attorney Tracy Roland attended the hearing and argued against Lairson’s release.

Prosecutors said Lairson’s mother caught him stealing money from her wallet, so he hit her in the head multiple times with a hammer. He then stabbed her neck and chest, leaving her to die on the floor of her trailer park home, according to prosecutors. Lairson admitted to stealing the money to buy drugs.

The victim’s daughter and two granddaughters also attended this month’s parole hearing. Letters from other family members were submitted. The woman’s family asked the parole board to keep Lairson in prison for the rest of his life.

Lairson will be scheduled for another parole hearing in 2021.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Parole denied for Modesto man who killed his mother."