Politics & Government
Legislature Throws Support Behind Bohovesky Family
Paula Bohovesky was murdered in Pearl River in 1980 when she was 16-years-old
The Rockland County Legislature voted unanimously Wednesday night to pass a resolution to show their support for the family of Paula Bohovesky.
In 1980, a 16-year-old Bohovesky, of Pearl River, was murdered by Richard LaBarbera and Robert McCain, who were both sentenced to 25-years-to-life for second-degree murder. Each began coming up for parole every two years in 2005. parole every two years. The legislature’s resolution supports the Bohovesky family in their efforts in asking the New York State Parole Board to not grant the two men parole.
The Orangetown Town Board is scheduled to vote on a similar resolution soon, and passed one back in 2011, the last time the two men were up for parole.
Legislator John Murphy, who represents Pearl River, called it a “flaw in the New York state criminal justice system” that these men are up for parole every two years.
“It’s punishment for the family,” Murphy said Wednesday night. “It’s cruel and unusual punishment for the family every time they’re up for parole.”
Murphy’s daughter was a classmate of Bohovesky and his son was a friend of hers. Murphy himself has worked closely with the family over the years, but noted many others in Pearl River do as well.
In recent years, locals have organized a freeze mob and concert in honor of Bohovesky. The Pearl River Library, where Bohovesky worked part-time, named the library’s art space in honor of her.
“Pearl River is more than a hamlet,” Murphy said. “It’s really an extended family, with the operative word being family. In Pearl River, it’s all about the children, and a member of the extended family had her child murdered, so we’re going to do what we can to help.”
Murphy added that there is a petition online for those who don’t want to see the men get parole that people can find at www.PetitionForPaula.com.
