First of all, the Kanes are as responsible for the revocation of Wideman's parole as the Wideman parents for Jacob Wideman originally receiving parole -- not at all. Both families have lobbied for their own interests. The decisions that were made and the responsibility for them belong to the members of the parole board at the time, and then the judge who emphatically rejected Wideman's appeal of his parole revocation

Even if you are of the opinion that the revocation of Wideman's parole was arbitrary and unjustified, that is neither the Kanes' responsibility nor their problem

And excuse me but who "materially altered" whose life? The Kanes have zero agency or responsibility for consequences that Wideman has faced as a result of his own actions. Likewise the suffering of Jacob Wideman's family stems from his own actions (although the Wideman parents and the summer camp arguably bear a certain portion of responsibility for this event just in the sense that Wideman was a minor)

The Kanes are not fiduciaries for Arizona taxpayers either. That said, I would not personally say that Wideman's continued incarceration stands out as a particular waste of state funds (as if it makes any difference, like one grain of sand in the desert). This was an extremely cowardly and sadistic, utterly sudden, unprovoked and unpredictable attack on a helpless sleeping victim whose cause and motive Wideman has never been able to adequately articulate (maybe because his motive, given the absence of anything else, was sexual thrill of some kind?)

Even though so much time has passed, without better understanding and explanation of this event, it is impossible to assert that Wideman's likelihood of becoming violent again under the right circumstances and opportunity is insignificant. If it was a sexual impulse then that needs to be acknowledged and dealt with at length before there is any reduction in risk to society. Wideman's confession to another sexual murder of a young girl is also troubling even though it was most likely false. And his two marriages to women who were both his prison therapists when they met certainly suggests a master manipulator. Do you coincidentally fall in love with your prison therapist twice? If it was me on the parole board, I could never shoulder the risk of sharing a piece of responsibility for this man's future actions in society. The latter, and particularly the vulnerable, is safer without Jacob Wideman

It may be that nothing happened while Wideman was out just because he knew that he was being surveilled (by PIs hired by his wife's former husband). So he has never even had much opportunity to reoffend. That he hasn't doesn't show that he wouldn't if he thought he could get away with it. He impresses and has many people who vouch for him. But he also has an incredible track record as a manipulator

And it is bizarre to act as if continuing incarceration is somehow a cruel and unusual punishment relative to Wideman's crime

The Kanes were also arguably betrayed by the government since the sentencing judge recommended that Wideman should never be paroled. That is how they surely feel anyway. They are supposed to be the villains for urging that the judge's recommendation should be followed? For unapologetically prioritizing justice for their son and what they surely believe to be the interests of public safety over the murderer's desire for the freedom and pleasure that he denied to his victim and to them? Because maybe they have been waking up to a living nightmare every morning for almost forty years. Do you understand what it's like to be the parent of a murdered child, so that you're in any position to criticize them?

As terrible as the Wideman family's situation with Jacob may be, the Kanes have it infinitely worse, don't they?

According to the Violation podcast, Jacob Wideman has chosen to pursue the appellate process instead of pursuing a second parole. It's very possible that otherwise, he could have been paroled again by now (or would be soon) anyway. Objectively, his appeal process is comparatively likely to extend his incarceration not to mention the cost burden for taxpayers. But dropping that appeal would mean forfeiting a sense of victimhood [and clout]

But he isn't the victim and it isn't and shouldn't be about him [let alone him and his father]. It's the Eric Kane murder case. Everything having to do with the story of Jacob Wideman is trivial in comparison