LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Parole Board on Monday found “without merit” the commutation request of a man who killed three people with Columbia County connections, including a child.Timothy Allen Hill, 54, is serving three life-without-parole sentences following his 2014 conviction in Pike County Circuit Court. He is held at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys.

Hill entered guilty pleas for the Saturday, July 12, 2013 shooting deaths of his estranged wife, mother-in-law and a child, all of whom lived in the Magnolia area.

The murders took place at Hill’s home in the Billstown community near Delight in Pike County.

Killed were Dana Lene’ Hill, 33, and her mother, Julie Darlene Hartsfield, 54, both of Rosston, and Autumn Rain Hartsfield, 9, of Waldo.

Lawmen said that Hill went on a rampage with an SKS rifle during a domestic dispute. Hill opened fire on a car driven by Mrs. Hartsfield as she pulled up to the residence on Arkansas 301 with Autumn Rain Hartsfield in the back seat. Mrs. Hartsfield was killed. Autumn Rain Hartsfield was taken to a Hot Springs hospital, where she later died.

After shooting the Hartsfield vehicle, Hill was alleged to have gone inside the house, where he shot and killed Dana Lene’ Hill. Hill surrendered when lawmen arrived.

Mrs. Hill worked at Wadley Regional Medical Center in Hope. She attended Nevada High School and Southern Arkansas University. Mrs. Hartsfield was a 15-year employee of Southern Arkansas University, including 12 years as secretary in the Alumni Office. Autumn Rain Hartsfield had just completed the third grade at East Side Elementary School in Magnolia.

In Arkansas, the Parole Board has the authority to assist the governor in exercising her authority to grant pardons and commutations.A commutation is a reduction in a sentence imposed by a court. It may mean either a lesser term of imprisonment or reduces a sentence to time served.

A pardon is an act of forgiveness issued by the governor for a crime that has been committed. It may be issued to people either in or out of prison.

Commutation or pardon requests deemed by the Parole Board as “With Merit” are formal recommendations to the governor in favor of the request. “Without Merit” recommendations indicate that the board does not approve of the inmate or parolee’s request. The governor has the authority to accept or reject either Parole Board recommendation.