Paula Bohovesky's Paroled Killer Arrested In Erie County

PEARL RIVER, NY — The killer of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky who was paroled earlier this month was arrested for parole violation charges. Richard LaBarbera was being held by the state Department of Correction and Supervisor.

The details of the alleged violations were not released, but the state said LaBarbera did not commit a new crime, the Journal News reported.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day issued a statement on the arrest of LaBarbera.

"I want to express my gratitude to the parole officers in Erie County for keeping a close watch on Richard LaBarbera and doing what the New York State Parole Board failed to do: keeping this child killer in jail," he said.

"Not surprisingly, it only took him days to run afoul of the law," Day said. "I remind all that this cretin was on parole when he murdered Paula so he clearly has learned nothing other than how to be a scar on society."

Paula Bohevesky was 16 and a junior at Pearl River High School when she was attacked and killed Oct. 28, 1980. She had 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.

The men were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.