Marletta’s First Parole Eligibility Denied

Toni Marletta, the 52 year old Leonardo woman who struck and killed Marissa Procopio, 15, of Atlantic Highlands in a hit and run incident on July 7, 2015 will remain in state prison until at least May 8, 2019, according to the NJ Department of Corrections website. She had been eligible for parole this coming May, the victim’s mother, Danielle Procopio told MMM.

Danielle told MMM that Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle informed her this morning that Marletta’s May 2018 parole was denied. Danielle had been waiting for a date with the Parole Board to make a statement and present a petition with over 1500 signatures opposing Marletta’s release when she got the news from Doyle.

Marletta was sentenced to seven years in prison on December 2, 2016 after accepting a plea deal to Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident that resulted in a Death and to two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child on September 16, 2016.

She was resentenced to the same term on December 15 2017 after the Appellate Division overturned the earlier sentence on procedural grounds.

Danielle and Marissa Procopio

Marletta had alcohol and cocaine in her system when she was arrested hours after the hit and run incident. However she was not charged with Vehicular Homicide because the prosecution’s forensic expert could not determine that she was impaired at the time she killed Marissa.

During the resentencing hearing, both Doyle and Judge Vincent N. Falcetano Jr did not believe her claim that she had consumed the liter and 1/2 of wine she admitted to after striking and killing Marissa. “I don’t think one can consume a liter and a half of water in an hour and a half,” the Judge said after reviewing the timeline, “Never mind a liter and a half of wine.”

Danielle, elated that Marletta will remain in custody for at least another year, told MMM that she is very grateful for the support she has received from the community and that she is convinced that the petitions she circulated online made a difference .