"Not a Minute Goes By" Henry Ruggs III Denied Parole Five Years After High-Speed DUI Crash Killed Tina Tintor

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Henry Ruggs III will remain in prison after the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners denied his request for parole nearly five years after the crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog, Max. The former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver had hoped to secure an early release from prison but was turned down during his first parole hearing.

Speaking from Northern Nevada Correctional Center, Ruggs spoke about the November 2021 collision and the loss suffered by Tintor's family. According to the Associated Press, the former NFL first-round draft pick accepted responsibility for his actions and told commissioners no day goes by without thinking about the pain caused by the crash.

Thursday's ruling means Ruggs, now 27, will not leave custody at his earliest eligibility date. Instead, he will remain at Northern Nevada Correctional Center while awaiting another appearance before the parole board ahead of his mandatory parole release date in August 2027.

His clearest expression of remorse came when Ruggs told commissioners, "Not a minute goes by" without thinking about the suffering experienced by Tintor's relatives, friends, and Las Vegas residents.

Nov. 2, 2021, marked the night Ruggs' NFL career came to an abrupt end on a Las Vegas roadway. Prosecutors said Ruggs was driving as fast as 156 miles per hour before slamming into Tintor's vehicle. Investigators determined his blood alcohol level measured roughly twice Nevada's legal limit.

Flames engulfed Tintor's vehicle after the collision, turning the crash into a nationwide story.

Commissioners weighed Ruggs' request against the loss of Tina Tintor. Those closest to Tintor have continued to speak about the daughter and friend they lost in the early morning crash.

In 2023, Ruggs pleaded guilty to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter as part of a plea agreement. A Nevada judge later imposed a prison term ranging from three to 10 years.

Attorneys representing Ruggs pointed to educational programs, community outreach work, and expressions of remorse during his incarceration. Commissioners ultimately chose not to grant parole at this stage of his sentence.

Aug. 24, 2027, now stands as the next major milestone in the case, with another parole hearing expected before that hearing takes place.