Convicted Killer McCain Denied Parole

The delays worried Lois Bohovesky.

Robert McCain, one of the two men convicted of the 1980 murder of Bohovesky's 16-year-old daughter Paula, was initially scheduled for a parole hearing in June of 2011. That hearing was delayed twice before finally being held this week.

"The fact that it was dragged out like that was very worrisome," Lois Bohovesky said.  "You wonder why that was happening. You wonder if you should be worried. I was worried, but I'm not any more. I'm very relieved."

Bohovesky got the news Wednesday afternoon. McCain's parole was denied by the three-member panel of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Board of Parole. 

"My reaction is very strong," said Rockland County Legislator John Murphy (R-Pearl River), who started Petition for Paula and has helped organize efforts to keep McCain and Richard LaBarbera in jail for Bohovesky's murder. "I don't believe that this beast should ever be allowed out of his cage. He won't own up to the crime. He's non-repentant. He lacks human decency.

"He won't face up to what he did, which would bring some comfort to everybody. I think he should be (imprisoned) for life."

Murphy said the movement to honor Paula Bohovesky's life and keep both men convicted of the crime in jail is important. He is concerned that either of them could someday be paroled or pardoned.

"It is very disturbing to think there is a chance they might get out and kill somebody else," Lois Bohovesky said. "It shouldn't happen.They should never be able to do that again, for God's sake."

The movement has grown of late, with Paula Bohovesky's former classmates and friends forming All For Paula, a group which recently held a freeze mob in Pearl River to honor Bohovesky's memory and protest the potential release of McCain and LaBarbera. The group is also planning to join with other organizations online to help deal with the issue of violent sexual crime. 

"This news comes as a huge relief," said Dari Knight, founder of All for Paula. "I hadn’t realized how anxious I was about the outcome until I heard that McCain was denied.  It is encouraging to hear that the parole board continues to take the severity of McCain’s crimes into account, and their responsibility to the protection of Rockland County as a serious matter."

"The movement is growing," Murphy said. "I'm proud that our little group was the first one to formalize the effort, my Petition for Paula group. We are the ones who collec the petitions every year."

Petition for Paula can be found here

McCain continued to deny he was even present when Bohovesky was killed during today's hearing. The full transcript is attached to this article.

"I'd like to talk about the fact I can't get a fair hearing, because--," McCain said before being cut off by a question from the parole board. "I was not there at the time. Everybody who was with me at the time testified that I was not there."

McCain continues to claim that he is being denied parole based on incorrect information, which played a part in the decision. By law, the board assumes the prisoner's guilt during a parole hearing. 

"During the interview, you continued to deny responsibility for this crime," the decision reads. "You exhibited a combative demeanor with no remorse for the victim.

"After a review of the record and interview, the Panel has determined that if released at this time, yoru release would be incompatible with the welfare of society and would so deprecate the serious nature of the crime as to undermine respect for the law."

McCain's history of alcohol abuse was also cited as a reason for denying his parole. The board did note McCain's vocational accomplishments and letters of support sent on his behalf.

"More compelling, however, is the extreme and heinous violence exhibited against a vulnerable young, innocent victim and your callous disregard for her life," the decision reads. "Based on all of the above, your release at this time is not appropriate." 

The full decision and the transcript of McCain’s interview are attached to this report.