Man fights to keep killer in prison, 20 years after father's death

MIAMI VALLEY, Ohio (WDTN) - A Miami Valley man is fighting to keep his father's killer behind bars. 

In March 1993, Danny Clark, 42, of Bath Township was stabbed to death while trying to protect two young girls who were being beaten by their mother's boyfriend, identified by police as Mark Ledbetter, at the Huber Trailer Park in Bath Township. 

Ledbetter, who was 24-years-old at the time, was convicted for Clark's death and sentenced to 15-years to life in prison.  He remains in the Madison Correctional Institute. 

Clark's son, Danny Clark Jr., said Ledbetter will be up for parole in January 2013.  Clark Jr. said he plans to testify before the parole board during Ledbetter's hearing in Dayton on Monday. 

"I'm going to give board members a stack of letters written by my family, friends and even prosecutors," said Clark Jr.  "Each states why they believe my father's killer should not be granted parole."

Clark Jr. believes Ledbetter is still a danger to society. 

"I believe he is still capable of killing someone," said Clark Jr.  "He threatened my mother's life and threw me against a car months before he killed my Dad."

Clark Jr. said he has been present for each of Ledbetter's three parole hearings since his father's death.