One Killer Of Pearl River Teen Paroled Despite Community Efforts

PEARL RIVER, NY — Paula Bohovesky was brutally murdered 39 years ago. The community's fight to keep her convicted killers behind bars has failed. One of its own, Richard LaBarbera, has been paroled, The Journal News reported.

Paula was 16 and a junior at Pearl River High School when she was attacked on Oct. 28, 1980. She left the Pearl River Library, where she worked after school, and was walking the two blocks to her home when she encountered LaBarbera and Robert McCain.

McCain, a drifter and career criminal from Arkansas, and LaBarbera, formerly of Orangetown, had spent the day drinking at a local bar, leaving after seeing Paula through the window, according to published reports. She was brutally attacked and killed.

Convicted of second-degree murder, they were given sentences of 25-years-to-life, the toughest sentence at the time.

Both killers had been denied release since becoming eligible for parole in 2005 — until now.

Family friend Bob Baird was with her mother Lois this morning when they called the Parole Board to hear the decision.

"I am heartbroken for her," said Baird, who was involved in covering the case as a reporter and columnist with The Journal News and, since retirement, as one of several advocates in the community pushing to keep the killers behind bars.

"They had never accepted individual responsibility, they kept pointing at each other. I always thought that was one of the underpinnings of parole, that you accepted responsibility," Baird said. "Obviously it didn't matter in this case."

Friends and family are still tensed up for McCain's parole hearing next month.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day expressed repugnance that LaBarbera was being set free.

"I find it extremely disgusting that a man who has expressed no remorse and never taken responsibility for his crimes is given more latitude than the victim of those heinous acts," Day said. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the Parole Board has slapped the people of New York State and Rockland County in the face. There needs to be immediate action taken by the Governor to ensure that the decisions made by the Parole Board reflect the decency of our community."