Alcohol Puts LaBarbera Back Behind Bars Temporarily

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Richard LaBarbera, one of the men who brutally murdered 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky as she walked home from her job at the Pearl River Library, is back in jail. He violated parole by drinking alcohol.

"At a parole revocation hearing Tuesday morning, parolee Richard LaBarbera entered a plea of guilty in exchange for a period of incarceration," said spokesperson Thomas Mailey for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. "The disposition is not final until a written decision is issued by the Administrative Law Judge. The parolee remains in the custody of the Erie County Correctional Facility."

That period is probably a year.

"It is a relief to see this monster back in jail where he belongs and where he should rightly spend the rest of his life; long may he rot in the Erie County Correctional Facility," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. "Richard LaBarbera does not deserve to walk free while our community still suffers from the loss and pain he caused. I remind all that this cretin was on parole when he murdered Paula Bohovesky so he clearly has learned nothing other than how to be a permanent scar on society.

"I again ask the Governor to revisit all the recent decisions of the Parole Board that includes releasing cop killers and child murderers as this type of behavior is exactly what I was speaking of when calling for LaBarbera to remain behind bars. He committed murder, a crime of permanency, and should be permanently in jail.”

A group of advocates tried unsuccessfully to convince the authorities to put him back in state prison, said John Murphy, given that after 39 years incarcerated, it only took LaBarbera three weeks to start drinking again. "We made a case that his addiction to alcohol was not only self-evident when he murdered Paula but by all his statements at all his parole hearings. He just proved that even after 39 years he's still addicted. That makes him a threat going forward."

LaBarbera, formerly of Orangetown, and Robert McCain, a drifter and career criminal from Arkansas, had spent Oct. 28, 1980 drinking at a local bar. They followed Paula after seeing her through the window. She was brutally attacked and killed. The men were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.

LaBarbera's drinking was brought up several times as he sought parole.

Bob Baird, a retired Rockland journalist who covered the tragedy and has been an advocate for Paula's mom, Lois, said LaBarbera had been in and out of jail before Paula's murder. In the early 70s, he got probation for robbing a clothing store in Rockland, but did local time for stealing tires, tape players and other items. Then in 1978, he went to prison for possession and sale of drugs and was paroled after a year.

In 2013, LaBarbera told the Parole Board it clear he knew he was violating his parole the night Paula was murdered. “You know, I was drunk, I wasn’t even supposed to be drinking; I’m in a bar, I’m not supposed to be in a bar; I’m in direct violation of my parole conditions and I clearly was not thinking clearly.” However, later discussions centered on LaBarbera’s post-release options instead.

SEE ALSO:

• One Killer Of Pearl River Teen Paroled Despite Community Efforts
• Paula Bohovesky's Paroled Killer Arrested In Erie County