The Tennessee Board of Parole has reached a decision in the case of 40-year-old Christopher Nicholas Orlando, who was convicted of facilitation of first-degree murder in the 2002 death of 20-year-old Joshua Murphy.
Orland was denied parole, and will have to spend at least three more years in prison before his release may be reconsidered.
Orlando is serving a 45-year prison  term, and is currently incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City.
A parole hearing was held for Orlando on March 4.
Three members of the seven-member board voted to deny Orlando parole, citing the seriousness of the offense as the reason for their decision.
Voting ends for the parole board when the required number of matching votes have been cast – either to parole or not to parole.
In this case, that was three votes of the seven-member board.
The case is not to be reconsidered until March, 2016.
Murphy was killed with a shotgun in a wooded area of the Laurel Hill community on Sept. 15, 2002. Authorities discovered his body three days later.
Orlando was convicted in DeKalb County Criminal Court in April 2004.
Co-defendant Melvin Turnbill pled guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder in Sept. 2003 and received a 25-year sentence in the case
He must serve at least 30 percent of the term, and is now being held at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville.
His parole hearing is set for April 2014.
While Orlando told board members at the hearing that he was sorry for Murphy’s death, he maintained his innocence, saying that Turnbill pulled the trigger.
Parole board Chairman Charles Traughber and board member Richard Montgomery both found Orlando “less than forthcoming” about his role in the murder.
Deputy District Attorney Gary McKenzie, speaking on behalf of the victim's family, agreed that Orlando was not being honest with the board.
Members of the parole board consider the seriousness of the offense, time served, victim input, any programs the offender may have completed and disciplinary actions against the offender while incarcerated in their final decision.