Parole Decision On Paula's Other Killer

PEARL RIVER, NY — The New York State Parole Board has denied parole for Richard McCain, one of two men who followed a 16-year-old Pearl River girl headed home from her job at the library and brutally attacked and killed her.

They made the opposite decision this spring for his partner in the crime, granting parole to Richard LaBarbera, who actually lived in Paula Bohovesky's community 39 years ago.

Members of the community have been agitating in Albany to force the Parole Board to rescind its decision.

LaBarbera and McCain, a drifter and career criminal, were hanging out drinking when they saw and attacked Paula. Convicted of second-degree murder, they each were given sentences of 25-years-to-life.

Both killers became eligible for parole in 2005. The community has backed Paula's mother Lois Bohovesky ever since in the fight to keep them behind bars.

"There's a monster under every child's bed. We knew ours by name," said her niece in a victim's impact statement.

Today's news pleased people in Rockland County but didn't make them forget last month's decision.

I spent the morning with Lois and we're both very happy," said John Murphy, a retired lawmaker who has led the fight to keep Paula's killers behind bars. "We're going to celebrate for a very short time and then we're going to dig in and try to find out what the difference was between this favorable judgment and the very unfavorable judgment."

"I want to thank everyone who has been and continues to be focused on restoring Justice for Paula. Today, it is clear that your words and actions have had an effect," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. "However, there will be no celebration of this victory, and our collective response will be muted as Richard LaBarbera may soon walk free on the same streets of Pearl River where he brutally murdered Paula Bohovesky nearly 40 years ago. We ask that everyone continue their efforts to reverse the disgraceful decision of the Parole Board to release Richard LaBarbera. Justice must be restored."

The target date for LaBarbera's release is July 14 but he must first fulfill all the requirements of the parole decision including approval of where he'll live and how he will support himself, Murphy said.

"The right decision was made in denying parole to convicted murderer Robert McCain," said Senator David Carlucci."McCain has never shown remorse for killing teenager Paula Bohovesky with Richard LaBarbera. Paula will never get to go home to hug her mother so to let McCain go free would be a deep injustice to her family and the community of Pearl River where this grisly murder happened. The New York State Parole Board should immediately reexamine their decision on releasing LaBarbera and also deny him parole."

Rockland County Legislator Alden Wolfe said he backed the parole board decision to keep one of the killers of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky behind bars, but continued his criticism of last month’s decision to release the other killer.

“This was a brutal murder of a beautiful 16-year-old with her entire future in front of her,” Wolfe said. “As the father of a teenage daughter, I can’t imagine what my life would be like if this crime occurred to my family.

The Rockland County Legislature has passed resolutions in support of Paula’s family as they fought parole for the Pearl River teen’s killers in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

In a resolution unanimously adopted Tuesday, the Legislature called upon the New York state Parole Board to deny parole to Robert McCain and to reverse its parole decision for Richard LaBarbera. The resolution, co-sponsored by Legislator Patrick Moroney (R-Pearl River) and Legislator Wolfe (D-Montebello), was forwarded to the Parole Board and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday.

“This was an outrageous crime that considers to impact the people of Pearl River and all of Orangetown,” Moroney said. “In fact, many of Paula’s friends are living throughout the country, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting involved in this effort – a fight for justice for Paula and her family. I thank everyone for their continuing support. It is making a difference.”

SEE:

• One Killer Of Pearl River Teen Paroled Despite Community Efforts

• Rally June 15 To Protest Parole For Paula's Killers | WATCH