From Deseret News archives:
Captain Nemo proclaims his innocence
Convicted killer says he was framed for murder in 1990
"It's awful. I could cry 'cause I'm innocent of what's happened to me," Eugene Woodland said during his parole hearing Tuesday.
Woodland, 79, appeared before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole for a rehearing stemming from his 1994 convictions on murder and aggravated assault.
In 1990, he shot and killed Bruce Larson at a Holladay building that Woodland had sought to turn into "Captain Nemo's Dinner Theater Atlantis & Fitness Center." Woodland had lost the building in a bankruptcy proceeding and Larson later bought it. Woodland confronted Larson and shot him five times in front of six people at the construction site. A construction worker was shot trying to tackle Woodland.
But to hear Woodland tell the story on Tuesday, he was framed. He blamed Larson's death on the man's business partner, whom he accused of stealing money and hiding out in Spain to thwart Woodland's attempts at proving his innocence.
"I am innocent of my murder charge. I have plenty of money to have a new trial," he said. "I have been a good, honest citizen all of my life."
The fact that he was convicted by a jury didn't matter.
Questions have been raised about Captain Nemo's mental state. After being arrested, he was sent to the Utah State Hospital after his own defense attorneys raised questions about his competency. Woodland continues to insists he is not mentally ill and has refused any treatment.
"Medicine might be able to help you," parole board vice-chairman Clark Harms told him.
"No, I take vitamins and I don't drink coffee and carbonation. It gives you tumors and tumors turn cancerous," he replied. "So I'm a health nut. I really am."
"Without appropriate mental health treatment, you are likely to stay here for the rest of your life," Harms told him. "The board is not going to release you until we think you're safe. The folks here at the prison ... are telling us you still represent a danger to yourself and others."
During his hearing Tuesday, Woodland tried to reason with Harms and blame questions of mental illness on a world record-setting jet boat ride. He once owned a fish-shaped, jet powered boat called the "Nautilus Missile."
"When they started to listen to my jet boat and what I did, they thought I was crazy," he said. "My daughter sent letters to the board saying, 'You ought to keep dad in there, 'cause he'll get back in the boat to try to capture the record."'
Since he's been in prison, Woodland spends time alone. He's housed near the prison's medical unit and doesn't have a cellmate ("I snore"), but he says he has a color TV and the guards like him. He has back problems and has to cup his hands by his ears to hear when someone is speaking to him.
"Pray for me," he told Harms as his hearing wrapped up.
The board will decide next month whether to keep Woodland for his natural life, schedule another rehearing or release him.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Recent comments
I am Bruce Larson's youngest son, I was 9 at the time my father was...
Brian Larson | July 15, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
Believe me or not, I'm "Nemo's" 18 granddaughter, he is my mother's...
Em | June 6, 2008 at 7:41 a.m.
Old timer, If you know Woodland you will know he really is mentally...
Glenn F | March 17, 2008 at 11:44 p.m.
- Fans greet 'New Moon' stars 6:37 p.m.
- Eisenhower home oozes charm 5:54 p.m.
- New designation for Clinton Museum 5:54 p.m.
- RDP brings family-oriented 'Joyride II' 5:54 p.m.
- Sculptor turns scrap metal into art 5:54 p.m.
- Art canvas 5:54 p.m.
- Galleries 5:54 p.m.
- BYU exhibit evokes identity questions 5:54 p.m.
- Literary footnotes 5:54 p.m.
- Bookmarks 5:54 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Born of water and the spirit
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead in crash
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Woods Cross refinery to shut down
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
354 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
124 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
105
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Let's take it to the Broncos, we have nothing to lose.
This was no "nail-biter", the Aggies were in control the whole game and were...
WOW IDAHO DOES OWN UTAH!!! GO BRONCOS!
Wow you sure are intelligent, ahhh the win from Wyoming was last week not...
The idea that anybody else but you is capable of interpreting the...
I miss the days with Malone, Stockton and Hornacek, those guys were injured,...
Not a pretty win, but way to and yet another win BYU. I love this team....
My prayers go to this family for the loss of their fine young son. God bless...
Seriously if you want to hear the arguments of Progressives it won't be on...
Don't go out of your way or anything on reporting here. Four sentences is all...

