A Butler County man who pleaded guilty to the brutal murder of Shackleville resident is scheduled to go before the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles this morning.

Thomas Wesley Smith pleaded guilty in 1999 for the murder of Tracy Killough, 29, and was sentenced to 99 years for murder and 15 years for burglary. Authorities believed Killough - a mother of three children - interrupted Smith while he was burglarizing her home in the small community of Shackleville.

The victim was stabbed multiple times and two of Killough's children were reportedly inside the home when the attack occurred.

Attorney General Troy King will appear before the parole board to protest the possible early release of Smith. King said Smith's plea agreement stipulated he would neither apply for, nor accept, parole for at least 30 years.

&#8220Because of the cold-blooded and violent nature of his crime, justice demands that Smith be required to spend every day of his sentence locked away in a prison cell,” King stated in a letter to parole board members. &#8220I urge you to defense the interests of justice and to leave Thomas Wesley Smith in prison where he belongs. He can never pay the debt that he owes to society and to the victim's family and friends for his murderous acts. I ask you to compel him to keep the agreement he made and to serve the sentence to which he agreed.”

Smith's parole will be considered at a meeting of the Board of Pardons and Paroles at 9 a.m. today at board's office in the Criminal Justice Center, 301 South Ripley St., in Montgomery.