Ex-officer in 'Fatal Vision' murders appeals release denial by The Associated Press Last Updated Apr 23, 2021 at 11:28 am EDT RALEIGH, N.C. — A former Army doctor serving life in prison for the “Fatal Vision” slayings of his wife and two young daughters in 1970 is appealing a federal court ruling this month denying his requested release due to poor health. Court officials on Friday sent the appeal notice filed late Thursday by attorneys for Jeffrey MacDonald to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. MacDonald’s lawyers intend to challenge the April 9 order by District Judge Terrence Boyle. The judge wrote that he lacked authority to adjust MacDonald’s prison time because a law governing compassionate release requests doesn’t apply to those who committed their crimes before a 1987 cutoff.