Famed Bay Area personal injury attorney Anh Phoong has accused California’s parole division of causing the death of Hanako Abe, a 27-year-old San Francisco woman who was killed by parolee Troy McAlister on New Year’s Eve 2020 — in a new legal filing that cites a whistleblower email from a person inside the state agency.
Phoong filed a wrongful death claim Wednesday — a precursor to a lawsuit — alleging that the Department Of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s parole division ignored a Dec. 29 plea from the Daly City Police Department to help locate McAlister, who was suspected of committing a violent carjacking while out on parole.
Hanako Abe was 27 when she was struck and killed in San Francisco. Phoong Law “This tragedy was not random,” said Phoong in a statement.
“Parole received repeated warnings that McAlister was committing violent crimes while out on parole.”
McAlister had been arrested at least four times while on parole in 2020 and, on Dec. 29, allegedly robbed a woman near a fast food restaurant in Daly City.
Daly City police asked parole agent Roberto Vasquez to help locate and arrest McAllster for felony carjacking and brandishing a firearm against a girlfriend.
Vasquez reportedly had access to McAlister’s “GPS coordinates, known residences of record and ankle monitor data” but ignored the request for assistance.
Anh Phoong, noted California personal injury lawyer, filed the claim against the state parole department. Phoong Law Two days later, while allegedly high on methamphetamines, McAlister drove intoxicated and struck and killed Abe and another woman, Elizabeth Pratt — sparking a firestorm over why he was free despite multiple arrests.
“Everyone is wondering why are we doing this, it’s been so long. The family, my client, they lost a daughter and all they want from this, they want answers,” Phoong told The Post.
“In the last several years, there’s always been speculation about why did this happen. Why? Did the police not do their job? Did the DA? Who was it? Was it parole?” she continued.
Phoong’s claim alleges that parole agents Vasquez, Rhoderick Reyes and Tom Porter failed to supervise McAlister during what was his third stint on parole.
Parole Agent Robert Vasquez allegedly ignored a request from Daly City police to help pursue McAlister. Phoong Law Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
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Vasquez, his parole agent, and the Department of Corrections took no action even after McAlister was repeatedly arrested by local police for new felonies, according to the claim.
That was because of a “direct order” from parole supervisors, according to an internal email first reported by Voice of San Francisco.
The email dated May 11, 2020 shows Porter, a parole supervisor, directing agents to not “provide agency assistance” or “search for violations” due to the COVID pandemic.
Troy McAlister was a multiple felon who was arrested several times in 2020. Phoong Law The field operations guidance was updated to “better align” with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “roadmap” to end the state’s stay-home order.
The order also directed agents to work remotely and only to visit “recent releases and parolees who could not be contacted.”
“This email kind of pieced everything together. And showed that it was the parole department agents, and officers, that had the ability and that had a duty, to supervise him [McAllister] And they failed,” Phoong added. “And that’s what lead to the death of Ms. Abe and Miss Platt. This is just about accountability and public safety.”
McAlister sought mental health diversion last year, but a court denied his request.
