State Senator Robert Ortt pushes bill to end early parole after Buffalo murder by ex-boyfriend with prior conviction.

State Senator Robert Ortt is pushing legislation to end early parole release, citing the July 2025 murder of Buffalo woman Amanda Thompson by her ex-boyfriend Rickey Crouch, who had a prior murder conviction and was released from parole supervision in 2023. Ortt argues Crouch might have been detained if still under supervision, preventing the killing after his May arrest on domestic violence charges. His bill, pending in the State Senate, would bar the Parole Board from granting early termination of supervision for serious offenders. Crouch faces first-degree murder and other charges, with pre-trial motions set for November 21, 2025, and a trial tentatively scheduled for June 3, 2026. Thompson’s family advocates for reform to prevent future tragedies.