Parole denied for ex-CHP officer who killed SDSU student during 1986 traffic stop

(CNS) — Parole was denied Wednesday for a former California Highway Patrol officer convicted of strangling a 20-year-old San Diego State University student during a 1986 traffic stop.

It was the third time that Craig Peyer, 61, had asked the California Board of Parole hearings to grant him a parole date. He will not be eligible for another chance at freedom for 15 years.

Peyer, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for killing Cara Knott, “continues to pose a very real danger to the public,’’ said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. “Our office provided the board with information they needed to deny parole, and our efforts were bolstered by support from the victim’s family and the community.’’

According to authorities, Peyer followed Knott for 10 miles the night of Dec. 27, 1986, before pulling her over on Interstate 15 at the Mercy Road exit.

When the traffic stop became long, personal and uncomfortable, Knott tried to escape and was strangled.

Peyer, then 36, threw the woman’s body over a nearby bridge.

He became a suspect when several other young women reported bizarre behavior from a CHP officer who had pulled them over at the same exit and detained them between 30 minutes and two hours.

Peyer’s first trial ended in a hung jury. He was convicted in a 1988 retrial.