SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Mark Rogowski, the former professional skater who went from the rising icon of the sport to rapist and murderer, was denied parole today, November 8.
Since 2019, the board granted parole two consecutive times parole commissioners granted him parole for the vicious rape and murder of 22-year-old Jessica Bergsten on May 21, 1991. Each of those times, Governor Gavin Newsom reversed the board's decision.
During the November 7 hearing, commissioners sought additional insight from Mr. Rogowski for the brutal rape and murder of Jessica Bergsten. Commissioners also sought to understand why Rogowski's account of the murder and his mindset on the night of the murder has changed over the nearly 34 years since the murder.
During the nearly four hours of testimony, Rogowski addressed Jessica Bergsten's brother, who watched the hearing virtually from his Arizona home.
"When I walked into this room, I tried not to look at Mr. Bergsten, but I saw his face, and it saddens me. Goddam, I killed his sister," said Rogowski. "I can't imagine if that would have happened to me if someone killed my brother or my daughter or my mother… for nothing. For nothing. I can’t even imagine the pain. Even a single day of my life, I wish I could undo my actions. I’m so sorry…god."
Mr. Bergsten showed no sign of forgiveness towards his sister's killer.
"I've heard a lot of half-truths today. My sister, Jessica, the villain, as he called her. She had the rest of her life in front of her. When he murdered my sister, he murdered my family. My parents took to alcohol. He said he's ok to die in prison. I am ok with that, too. Most of America would be ok with it."
Concluded Mr. Bergsten, "You buried her in the desert for the f**cking animals to eat."
The San Diego County District Attorney's Office also attended the hearing in opposition to Rogowski's parole.
During the questions, Deputy District Attorney John Cross questioned Rogowski for changing his memory about the rape and murder. Cross said doing so shows Rogowski has failed to come to terms with his crime and, by not doing so, should not be granted release.
"We are opposed," said Cross during closing arguments. "The issues from the last hearing are still outstanding. The issues the Governor recognized are still outstanding. Rogowski lacks insight into the rape, torture, and murder and continues to minimize it. He talks a lot. He writes a lot. But the more he talks, the less we understand what happened. It’s more confusing today than it was at the last hearing. This was just an atrocious crime."
However, Rogowski's attorney, Laura Sheppard, said her client's minor changes to testimony he gave over thirty years ago should be part of the rehabilitation process. Sheppard stated that Rogowski has worked to better understand why he did what he did and come to terms with the underlying facts of why he committed such a heinous crime.
In his closing statement, Rogowski said he wishes he could go back in time, but he can't. He apologized for what he did to Jessica Bergsten and her family. "This can't be undone, but what I can do is somehow payback, and the only way I can do that is through self-improvement. What I did to Jessica has affected every single fiber of my being. I was completely broken and full of rage," said Rogowski.
Commissioner Julie Garland said her Commissioner Brenna Kantrovitz decided to deny parole because Rogowski failed to admit and explain why he murdered Bergsten.
"You were evasive," said Garland. "You said today you had a pattern of lying, and we saw that with neon lights today. You said in your closing, 'honesty is the cornerstone of my being," but there's just something that is blocking you from dealing with what you've done and why you did it."
Rogowski will be up for parole in no less than three years.
Meanwhile, Rogowski is currently suing the state over the governor's reversal. That case is now in the appellate court.
