'Paula was extraordinary': the killer of a 16-year-old girl will be released early

The mother of an 16-year-old girl, who was brutally murdered in 1980, calls on the New York Parole Commission to reconsider her decision to release her daughter’s killer next month.

Photos from the family archive

Lois Bogowski, whose daughter Paula was beaten, sexually abused and stabbed home from a library in Pearl River, New York, called it “injustice” that the state wants to release Richard La Barber, one of two convicted of her killing men.

“He [LaBarbera] still hasn’t accepted responsibility for the murder,” Bogowski, 87, said.

“The medical examiner said he had never seen such a brutal attack,” she added. “Think about what would happen if they did it again.” I'm not sure I can handle this.

“If there is anything Governor Cuomo can do, please, for the love of God, reverse the decision,” Bogowski said.

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The parole board last week informed the family that La Barbera would be released in July. This shocked the defenders of the victim, state legislators and the city, which still can not recover from the brutal murder of a novice actress, a talented artist and student.

Only three states—Maryland, Oklahoma and California—allow governors to override the Parole Board's decision. But Bogowski hopes mounting pressure from state lawmakers and residents will force the commission to reconsider its decision.

In 1981, a jury convicted LaBarbera and Robert McCain of second-degree murder. The two men were sentenced to 25 years in prison and life imprisonment, the harshest punishment available at the time.

Photo: New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

La Barber's 66-year-old, who was on parole for a drug-related crime, never claimed responsibility for Bogowski’s death. Just like McCain, who has been 58 for years, he will appear before the same June release 10 parole commission.

Bogowski's murder details are speechless.

28 October 1980 after 19 hours, the girl left the library where she worked part time and went through the city center to Hunt Street.

The girl was two blocks from her parents' house when she was noticed by La Barbera and McCain, who both drank at the nearby High Wheeler bar.

McCain quickly caught up with Bogowski and took down the right side of her skull with a piece of pavement, which he picked up from the ground. Then he dragged her behind an abandoned house and attacked her while La Barbera watched it.

Believing that Bogowski died, La Barbera tried to rape a teenage girl. When she stirred, to his surprise, LaBarber stabbed her five times with a knife in the back, killing the girl, the police told Fox News.

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In its decision, the Parole Board wrote: “The commission considered the cruelty of your crime when you and your accomplice beat and killed an 16-year-old victim.”

"During your interview, you expressed sincere repentance, and your overall service record reflects not only low (risk to society), but also rethinking almost 39 years in prison."

Bogowski said she did not believe that La Barbera repented.

“I don't think he has any regrets. He never took responsibility for this, so how can he regret? - she is perplexed. “And McCain continues to claim that he did not rape her.” But the medical examiner said it was. I wish to God that he [the judge] convicts them of rape because there is no doubt that this happened.”

Outrage over La Barbera’s report extends beyond Pearl River, a quiet village in Rockland County, about 30 miles north of New York. Many New York legislators claim that the state is determined to reduce the number of prisoners and thus adopted a system that puts the perpetrator above the victim.

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For Bogowski, the pain of losing her only daughter is just as painful as in 1980.

“Paula was extraordinary. She was only 16. Who knows what she could have become,” Bogowski said.

ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• New York Mayor Bill de Blasio hopes to "more than tripled" to enlarge the number of adolescents who will be released from city prisons to court without bail, even if they were detained on serious charges such as armed robbery, assault and burglary. Policy changes will take effect on Saturday, June 1.

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