Calls mount for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to block imminent release of man convicted of raping & killing teen

[Sugar Cookie]

New York state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to block the release of a man convicted in the 1980 murder of a 16-year-old girl in a crime so depraved it stunned law enforcement and shook a close-knit community to its core.

Paula Bohovesky, an aspiring actress and high school honor student, was beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed to death as she walked home from a local library in the quiet hamlet of Pearl River, New York.

A jury convicted Richard LaBarbera and Robert McCain of second-degree murder in 1981, and the two men were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison – the toughest sentence possible at that time.

On Wednesday, a parole board of Cuomo appointees informed Bohovesky’s family that LaBarbera will be released in July – a move that shocked victim advocates, state lawmakers and the girl’s mother, who said in a statement released by a family friend: “It’s all about the state’s decision to reduce the prison population.”

LaBarbera, 66, who was out on parole for a drug-related offense at the time of the killing, has never claimed responsibility for Bohovesky’s death – a common prerequisite before a criminal is released. Neither has McCain, 58, who goes before the same parole board in June.

“Both of these killers never expressed remorse, regret, shame or accepted responsibility for this beastly crime,” said John Murphy, a former Rockland County legislator.

“This was an appalling, animalistic act,” said Murphy, who founded a non-profit group called, “Petition for Paula,” more than a decade ago. Every two years, the charity collects thousands of signatures to present to the parole board in opposition of the men’s release.

“This is a time-sensitive situation. We need people to call the governor’s office because this is appalling and inhumane,” Murphy told Fox News. “We cannot have this happen to another child.”

Calls mount for Cuomo to block imminent release of convicted child killer

New York state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to block the release of a man convicted in the 1980 murder of a 16-year-old girl in a crime so depraved it stunned law enforcement and shook a close-knit community to its core.

www.foxnews.com

Shortly after 7 p.m. on Oct. 28, 1980, Paula left her part-time job at the Pearl River library and walked through the center of town toward her home on Hunt Street. The teen was within one block of her parents’ house when LaBarbera and McCain – both of whom had been drinking at the High Wheeler bar nearby – grabbed Bohovesky and dragged her behind a house on the corner of an intersection. McCain attempted to rape Bohovesky, while LaBarbera watched, according to police. When the girl fought back, McCain crushed her skull with a chunk of pavement.

Believing that Bohovesky was dead, LaBarbera then tried to sodomize the child. When she stirred, to his surprise, LaBarbera stabbed her with a knife five times in the back, killing her, police told Fox News.

“She fought them off to her death,” said Murphy.

By 10 p.m., when Bohovesky failed to return home, her parents reported her missing and a manhunt was quickly underway through the streets of Pearl River. Bohovesky’s body was discovered face down behind the home the next morning.

Calls mount for Cuomo to block imminent release of convicted child killer

New York state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to block the release of a man convicted in the 1980 murder of a 16-year-old girl in a crime so depraved it stunned law enforcement and shook a close-knit community to its core.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Sejanus]

Snuff them out.
Needle to the heart full of air

 

[Babs]

“Both of these killers never expressed remorse, regret, shame or accepted responsibility for this beastly crime,”...

How can the parole justify releasing these murderers if they still don't even acknowledge responsibility? Outrageous!

 

[Sugar Cookie]

@Babs

All this criminal justice reform will lead to rapists, pedophiles and murderers given lighter sentences and earlier parole dates.

 

[Ripley]

“It’s all about the state’s decision to reduce the prison population.”

I’m sure there are plenty of non violent drug offenders that could be let out instead.

 

[Sue sue]

“It’s all about the state’s decision to reduce the prison population.”

I’m sure there are plenty of non violent drug offenders that could be let out instead.

They could always set up a minibar from the Dominican Republic in his cell.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Hundreds of people marched silently through the streets of a suburban New York town in the dark on Saturday with candles illuminating the path taken by a 16-year-old girl who was brutally murdered as she walked home from the library nearly 40 years ago.

The peaceful protest was a plea to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to intervene in the imminent release of a man convicted in the 1980 murder of Paula Bohovesky, an honor student and aspiring actress who was beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in a crime so depraved it stunned law enforcement and shook the small town of Pearl River to its core.

“The justice provided by the court for Paula, her family, her friends and the Pearl River community has been stolen,” Rockland County Executive Ed Day said in response to a recent parole board decision to release 66-year-old Richard LaBarbera, one of two men convicted in Paula’s murder.

“Governor Cuomo, you must take the necessary steps to have the parole board reverse its decision immediately,” Day said to applause from some 500 people gathered in front of the town’s gazebo. “For reasons not made known, a broken parole system that was charged to be a purveyor of justice has instead become a perversion of justice.”

LaBarbera and another man, Robert McCain, were sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder – the toughest sentence at that time. Last month, a parole board of Cuomo appointees informed the family that LaBarbera will be released in July – a move that shocked victim advocates, state lawmakers and a town that has never healed from the savage crime.

McCain, 58, is set to go before the same parole board next week. The two were denied parole seven times since first becoming eligible in 2005.

“Neither one of them has taken responsibility and neither one of them has shown remorse,” Paula’s mother, Lois Bohovesky, told Fox News in an interview.

nly three states – Maryland, Oklahoma and California – allow governors to reverse a parole board’s decision. But many critics, including former New York Gov. George Pataki, said Cuomo should pressure the parole board to reconsider its decision.

In a statement to Fox News, Pataki called the decision to grant LaBarbera parole a “gross injustice” and said Cuomo “should urge the parole board to reverse this horrible decision.”

Hundreds protest plan to release convicted killer of 16-year-old New York girl

Hundreds of people marched silently through the streets of a suburban New York town in the dark on Saturday with candles illuminating the path taken by a 16-year-old girl who was brutally murdered as she walked home from the library nearly 40 years ago.

www.foxnews.com

 

[The Night Nurse]

Why were they not given the death penalty, or Life Without, in the first place?

 

[BuffettGirl]

I've seen this a lot lately. People being miffed that prisoners are getting out of jail after having committed heinous crimes. Trouble is, do-gooders wanted lighter sentences and less harsh treatment of depraved criminals and now that those chits are coming in 25-40 years later. Now it's a whole lot of "Not MY town!" when the prisoners get released... Sounded good in your younger years to protest this shit, now, it's not quite as easy to define is it?

 

[Babs]

Why were they not given the death penalty, or Life Without, in the first place?

"LaBarbera and another man, Robert McCain, were sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder – the toughest sentence at that time. "

 

[JackBurton]

Why were they not given the death penalty, or Life Without, in the first place?

New York

The govt there doesnt give a shit about human beings or crime victims

 

[Inferus]

Why were they not given the death penalty, or Life Without, in the first place?

Because of moral relativism and pussies afraid to serve as executor. Pay me in beer and I'll kill all the defectives you want.

Post automatically merged: Jul 30, 2019

I've seen this a lot lately. People being miffed that prisoners are getting out of jail after having committed heinous crimes. Trouble is, do-gooders wanted lighter sentences and less harsh treatment of depraved criminals and now that those chits are coming in 25-40 years later. Now it's a whole lot of "Not MY town!" when the prisoners get released... Sounded good in your younger years to protest this shit, now, it's not quite as easy to define is it?

Exactly. Easy to be forgiving when it's not a friend/family member and it's not in your neighborhood. Maybe people need to embrace traditional thinking.

 

[BuffettGirl]

Exactly. Easy to be forgiving when it's not a friend/family member and it's not in your neighborhood. Maybe people need to embrace traditional thinking.

It's traditional for a reason... because it WORKED!