A former San Francisco criminal defense lawyer whose dogs fatally mauled neighbor Diane Whipple more than two decades ago has been denied parole for the third time. Marjorie Knoller, now 70, was rejected by a California parole board last Thursday, with her next opportunity for release scheduled for February 2029, according to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The tragic incident occurred in January 2001, when Knoller's two massive Presa Canario dogs attacked Whipple as she returned to her San Francisco apartment from a grocery store. Whipple, a 33-year-old college lacrosse coach, was killed by the animals—a 125-pound dog named Bane and a 115-pound dog named Hera—which prosecutors described as “time bombs.”
Knoller and her husband, Robert Noel, had been caring for the dogs on behalf of a 38-year-old member of the Aryan Brotherhood, who was serving a life sentence and was one of their clients as criminal defense lawyers. The couple was thrust into the national spotlight following the brutal mauling, which horrified the San Francisco community.
Locals had long known the dogs for their vicious temperament, earning them the chilling nickname “dog(s) of death,” as reported by SFGate. The animals' reputation preceded the fatal attack, underscoring the dangers they posed to neighbors in the apartment building.
This latest parole denial marks the third rejection for Knoller, who has now been denied freedom multiple times by the parole board. The decision reinforces the lasting impact of the 2001 case, which remains a stark reminder of the consequences of owning aggressive breeds without proper control.
The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed the parole board's ruling, setting Knoller's next hearing four years from now. The case continues to evoke strong emotions in San Francisco, where Whipple's death left an indelible mark on the community.
