Mothers of Murdered Children Deserve Justice Too

Two years ago, the unimaginable happened in Pearl River when Richard LaBarbera of Orangeburg, one of the individuals convicted of the brutal 1980 murder and attempted rape of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky, was released on parole. Almost immediately, he violated the conditions of his release by drinking and was returned to prison for an addition year. He was then released again.

In June, Robert McCain, the other convicted killer, goes before a Parole Board panel seeking his freedom. As we have done since the two became eligible for parole in 2005, we are working fervently to prevent McCain’s freedom.

On Oct. 28, 1980, both men had spent the day drinking and around 7 p.m. saw Pearl River Honor Student Paula Bohovesky walking home on Main Street from her after school job at the Pearl River Library.

The two killers saw Paula through the window of the Bar on Central Avenue at the of Main Street & Central Avenue across the street from the Police Booth.

Following Paula, McCain used a chunk of concrete to bash her skull and dragged her to the back of a vacant house on Main Street just blocks from her home. There, according to police and the medical examiner, he attempted a sexual assault before LaBarbera took his turn. Thinking Paula dead, he too tried a sex act but when she stirred, he stabbed her repeatedly. She was left with her clothes in disarray to die in a pool of her own blood. A horro that defies description and never leaves her Mother's mind.

More than 40 years later, McCain denies any responsibility, pointing sole blame to LaBarbera. There has been no expression of remorse, no apology to Paula’s Mother, Lois, who lives in fear that she may one day be confronted by one of her daughter’s killers. The pain of Paula’s loss is with Lois Bohovesky daily. It never eases and has only deepened with the knowledge that the talented teen, who was a actor, artist, and musician, might now be a mother of her own 16-year-old daughter – a grandchild Lois will never get to know.

Since 2005, Petition for Paula has collected thousands of signatures of right-thinking residents of Pearl River, Orangetown, Rockland and beyond urging that the killers be denied their freedom. It’s now time to make that stand once again to block the parole of Robert McCain. We urge that you express your opposition to his parole in a letter to one or all of the addresses below, including this information to identify him as the subject.

Regarding Robert McCain, DOB 10/16/60, NYS DIN # 81B1327

NYS Dept. of Corrections and Community Supervision, Harriman Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050 or

Groveland Correctional Facility, Attn: SORC, 7000 Sonyea Road, P.O. Box 50, Sonyea, NY 14556-0050 or

file your letter electronically:Access the Dept. of Corrections and Community Supervision website and express your opposition using the form there:http://www.doccs.ny.gov/letters.html

Two other points. Your mail must arrive by May 1 and I am asking you to express why this vicious un repentant un-apologetic beast should enjoy freedom while Paula's Mother, Lois, must suffer every day for the rest of her life and say it as if Paula was your daughter.

Let the parole Board know that the Mother's of victims deserve both justice and compassion.