Woman who was convicted in dog-mauling is paroled

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Marjorie Knoller was paroled from prison New Year's Day, almost three years after two huge dogs she had taken for a walk mauled her neighbor to death.

Knoller was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Diane Whipple, who was killed by two Presa Canarios as she stood in the hallway of her San Francisco apartment building with a bag groceries on Jan. 26, 2001.

Knoller, 48, was released from the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla on Thursday, said California Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Heimerich.

Heimerich said Knoller was paroled to Southern California, far from the parole site of her husband and law partner, Robert Noel, in Solano County. But Heimerich would not say where.

Noel, 62, also was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Whipple's death. Both also were found guilty of keeping a mischievous animal that kills a person.

Each was sentenced to four years in prison. They received credit for time they served in jail before their 2002 trial and also for work they did while incarcerated.

Noel did more work and was paroled in September. Knoller's previous estimated parole date was in March.

"It came as a bit of a shock that she got out now," said Jim Hammer, the San Francisco assistant district attorney who prosecuted the pair.

Hammer said Whipple's partner, Sharon Smith, was disappointed to hear of Knoller's release.

Knoller will have to find a job while on parole for three years but will not be able to practice law. Both she and Noel were placed on interim suspension by the state bar.

State Bar of California after their criminal convictions.

After appeals of their criminal cases are complete, the state bar will hold a disciplinary hearing and decide what to do with their licenses, he said.

Both Noel and Knoller have appeals pending. So too does the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, which appealed the trial judge's decision to throw out the jury's conviction of Knoller for second-degree murder.