The former Raiders wide receiver will remain incarcerated until at least late 2027.
Henry Ruggs III will not be leaving prison early. The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners denied the former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver parole on June 11, nearly five years after a drunken driving crash killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog in Las Vegas. Ruggs will be eligible to appear before the board again three months before his mandatory parole release date of August 24, 2027.
The decision landed quietly for Tintor’s family. Her mother and brother declined interview requests before the ruling. Her uncle declined comment afterward. Her mother said only that it was still hard when reached briefly by phone.
What happened and what followed
On the night of November 2, 2021, Ruggs was driving his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray at 156 mph with a blood alcohol content of 0.161%, more than twice Nevada’s legal limit, when he struck the rear of Tintor’s Toyota RAV4. The impact sent the vehicle 571 feet before it caught fire. Tintor and her dog Max died from thermal injuries. Ruggs’ fiancée, Kiara Je’Nai Kilgo-Washington, was a passenger and survived.
The Raiders released Ruggs hours after his arrest. He pleaded guilty in May 2023 to one count of felony DUI causing death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. A Nevada court sentenced him in August 2023 to three to ten years in prison.
In October 2025, Ruggs was transferred from a low-security transitional housing facility to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, a medium-security institution.
What Ruggs told the board
At his initial parole hearing in May, conducted over video, Ruggs told the board he takes full responsibility for what happened and said no time passes without him thinking about the pain he caused Tintor’s family, her friends, and the Las Vegas community. He told the board he had met with Tintor’s brother in person to deliver a direct apology.
Ruggs also spoke about his 6-year-old daughter and his fiancée, and said he hoped to be given the opportunity to prove himself. His attorneys expressed disappointment following Thursday’s decision while reiterating that their client continues to feel the grief and loss suffered by Tintor’s family.
Parole board commissioner Sandy Schmitt had noted at the May hearing that sentencing guidelines recommend release at the first or second hearing for someone in Ruggs’ position and that his conduct in custody would be treated as a mitigating factor.
What Ruggs did in custody
During his incarceration, Ruggs completed a bachelor of science degree in commerce and business administration from the University of Alabama. He spoke to HOPE for Prisoners in Las Vegas and to inmates at the Southern Desert Correctional Center about the consequences of drunk driving. He also led a cardio class for fellow inmates.
His agent described him as being in a significantly better place mentally and emotionally than he was in the period immediately following the crash. Ruggs has publicly stated his intention to advocate against drunk driving upon his release.
The prosecutor’s view
Eric Bauman, the former Clark County chief deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case, told ESPN that the Ruggs case was among the most horrific DUI situations he encountered across tens of thousands of cases over his career, and that it played a meaningful role in his decision to retire at 53. He called Thursday’s decision a step closer to justice for Tintor’s family.
What comes next
Ruggs is 27 years old. He has publicly said he hopes to return to professional football after his release and has expressed interest in returning to the Raiders specifically, though the front office and coaching staff who drafted him in 2020 are no longer with the organization. The NFL has not commented on his eligibility status.
Before the crash, Ruggs had been one of the most electrifying young receivers in the league. Selected 12th overall in the 2020 draft, he was the first wide receiver taken that year, ahead of CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Justin Jefferson. He recorded 24 catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns through seven games in 2021 before his arrest ended his time with the team.
His next parole hearing will be scheduled for no later than May 2027.