The man convicted of fatally shooting his stepson on Halloween 2019, will have to serve at least another year in jail after a parole board denied his bid for early release last week. Albert Wayne Fisher, Jr., 55, has served two and a half years of his six-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter for the shooting of 38-year-old Tyler Durden outside the Fisher home on Eckles Heights in Liberty.

This was Fisher’s second parole hearing, held on September 24 at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, where he is incarcerated. Parole Board member Zane Duncan presided over the hearing, and heard from Fisher as well as supporters, including his wife, mother, and pastor. Those opposed to his release, including the victim’s sister and cousin, participated in the hearing by video conference from Cookeville. Letters of opposition and support were also entered into the hearing.

During the hearing, Fisher said he regrets his actions and is sorry for the pain and hurt it has caused.

“I cannot articulate the conjunction of this crisis, but I am trying my very best to make something positive come from it. I feel I have let down so many people in my life. I am so grateful and thankful to my wife who is able to forgive me for such a great loss. She continues to be supportive of me, but I will still have to look into her hurting eyes for the rest of our lives knowing that I am responsible for taking her son’s life. I am so sorry and forever regretful for putting myself in this situation. I am sorry to all the people I have hurt and all that are impacted. I plea for your mercy and your forgiveness,” said Fisher.

Durden was a drill sergeant and a 19-year veteran of the US Army. State prosecutors believe that several hours before the murder Durden had decided to come to Liberty to surprise his mother on Halloween night after returning from a deployment overseas. He was unarmed.

Fisher’s wife Debbie, and mother of the victim Tyler, was among those at the hearing to speak on behalf of her husband. “He is a good man with a kind heart, and he would not intentionally hurt anyone. Albert is planning the rest of his life to help others and be successful and I want to be part of that and help him as much as I can. Albert has taken all the various classes and programs here at Riverbend to educate himself and be successful when he re-enters society,” said Debbie Fisher.

Shirley Fisher, Albert’s mother, also spoke on his behalf. “I talk to him about every day on the phone. I miss my son. I love him and I know he never intended to kill nobody,” she said.

The victim’s sister, Jessica Anderson asked that Fisher be made to serve his complete sentence. “Last year we stood before this board and heard how that Fisher had been an exceptional prisoner while being at Riverbend. Yet if he had been an exceptional human being and law abiding, he would not be here and my brother would not be dead,” said Anderson. “Fisher is evil and a con. Fisher shot an unarmed and innocent person that was of no threat to him. My brother was across the street walking away and Fisher yelled for him to come back. Fisher has hardly served any time for the crime he committed though no amount of time will undo what Fisher has done to bring my brother back or give us more time with him. I ask that Fisher not be granted parole. He was sentenced to serve only six years for the life he took. I ask that he be made to serve his time. Fisher is here with his family members to ask you to grant him his life back to be able to be with his family. I would like to know when the hearing for my brother is to ask for his life back for more time to spend with his family,” Anderson said.

Duncan, the only parole board member participating, said his vote was not to recommend parole at this time. Duncan’s decision is not final. Four concurring Board member votes are needed to reach a final decision for this particular case. “I cannot vote for your release today. My vote is to decline you for the seriousness of the offense for one year,” said Duncan.

If the board denies Fisher, his next opportunity for parole will be in September 2025.