SC man who confessed on voice mail denied parole

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A man who confessed to killing his drinking buddy on a prosecutor’s voice mail in Horry County has been denied parole.

Joseph Martone has been behind bars since pleading guilty to strong-armed robbery and involuntary manslaughter in 2007 after saying he was sorry and confessing to 22-year-old Christopher Fretz’s death.

Martone told the parole board he was a good man and has taken anger management courses in prison, but the board rejected his parole request Wednesday without discussion.

Fretz’s grandparents also spoke to the board and said he needs to serve his whole sentence. Prison officials say Martone can come up for parole each year until he is released in 2017.

Investigators say Martone killed Fretz with one blow to the head, then stole his money and cell phone.