A man who has spent more than half of his life in prison for his role in the 2001 stabbing deaths of two married Dartmouth College professors as part of a plan to rob and kill people could be released on parole as early as May.
James Parker was 16 years old when he was involved in a conspiracy with his best friend that led to the deaths of Half and Susanne Zantop in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Parker sought a sentence reduction in 2018 because he had served two-thirds of his term, making him eligible for the shorter time under the law. He withdrew his request in 2019, however, after the Zantops' two daughters raised objections.
Parker and Robert Tulloch, then 17, were allegedly bored with their lives in Chelsea, Vermont, and decided they wanted to move to Australia, estimating they needed $10,000 for the trip.
Their plan was to knock on homeowners' doors under the pretense of conducting an environmental survey, then tie up the residents, steal their credit cards and ATM information, and force the victims to provide pin numbers, according to ABC News.
Parker's lawyer and the Department of Corrections staff highlighted James Parker's significant efforts toward rehabilitation while serving time.
They noted his excellent disciplinary record and involvement in art projects with nonprofits, as well as earning a bachelor's and master's degree while in prison.
Parker has also lived in transitional housing, which is often the last step before an inmate is released.
"I think it's unimaginably horrible," Parker said during the parole hearing when asked his opinion of what he did by a board member.
"I know there's not an amount of time or things that I can do to change it or alleviate any pain that I've caused," he added.
