Former Raiders WR Henry Ruggs denied parole nearly 5 years after deadly car crash

The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners released its decision to deny parole for former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs Thursday.

Ruggs, 27, was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison in 2023 for killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of DUI resulting in death and a count of vehicular manslaughter.

He appeared before the parole board in May and said he took full responsibility for the fact that his actions led to the death of Tintor and her dog Max.

“Not a minute goes by where I don’t think of the pain I caused her family, her friends and the Las Vegas community,” he said.

Commissioner Sandy Schmitt said during the prior parole hearing that Ruggs was eligible for parole Aug. 5, 2026 and had a mandatory parole date of Aug. 24, 2027.

At the time of the 2021 crash, Ruggs was speeding down Rainbow Boulevard in his Corvette Stingray when he slammed the back of Tintor’s SUV so violently that it caught fire. Tintor’s dog was also killed.

Ruggs was driving up to 156 mph seconds before the crash, and authorities said his blood alcohol level was 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit.

Nevada Department of Corrections records show that he is currently incarcerated at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.

Ruggs’ attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in a Thursday statement that they disagreed with the parole board’s decision.

“Mr. Ruggs, and our office, continue to feel the grief and loss suffered by Ms. Tintor’s family,” the statement said. “However, we are disappointed by the Parole Board’s decision to deny parole despite overwhelming evidence of Mr. Ruggs having accepted responsibility for his conduct, having engaged in community outreach efforts related to DUI prevention, and having completed significant educational programs while in custody.”

Several members of Tintor’s family who have previously spoken publicly could not be reached for comment Thursday.

“Every parent’s worst nightmare is to create a beautiful child just to have them taken away at the hands of another’s negligence,” said Tintor’s cousin, Daniel Strbac, in a statement prepared by her mother, Mirjana Komazec, at Ruggs’ sentencing hearing. “There are very few words to explain the feelings of losing a child. It is a pain we feel every day.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.