| A former Chelsea teen convicted of second-degree murder in the 2001 killings of two Dartmouth professors was granted parole yesterday. James Parker, who was 16 at the time of the crime, had nearly served the minimum of his prison sentence of 25 years to life, per NHPR. Valley News spoke with one of Susanne and Half Zantop’s daughters: “’It is not about revenge. For every collective year he’s in jail, it is not going to make me feel better about what happened,” said [Veronika] Zantop, 52, a psychiatrist in Seattle and mother of two young boys. Parker’s co-defendant, Robert Tulloch, was sentenced in Grafton County Superior Court to life in prison without parole. The U.S. Supreme Court has since ruled that it is unconstitutional for juveniles to receive such a sentence. He has a resentencing hearing in June. – Journal-Opinion |
A Swanton man has been jailed on child sex assault charges, state police say.
On April 1, the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Vermont Department for Children and Families began an investigation after receiving a report of child sexual abuse called in by a mandated reporter. According to the results of the investigation, Skylar Lawder, 24, of Swanton sexually assaulted a female under the age of 16 back in January 2024.
Lawder was arrested by the Vermont State Police on Thursday, April 18, on a charge of Sexual Assault and Lewd and Lascivious. He was ordered jailed and held on $10,000 bail and is due to appear for arraignment on April 19.
State Police are searching for a stolen car they say was used by ‘porch pirates’ in Jeffersonville.
On April 18, at about 1:15 p.m., troopers were notified of a vehicle theft from a home on Main Street in Montgomery. The blue 2010 Acura TSX was stolen overnight and has license plate “KQ”, had the moldings on both front posts missing, and rust on the rocker panels. The vehicle may also have a “grandpa grunts” sticker on the rear. Late that night, state police received a report of a vehicle matching the description stealing packages from residences on Jeff Heights in Cambridge.
The vehicle was occupied by two people and appears to have the front license plate covered with tape. Photos of that vehicle and one of the suspects are attached to this release. Anybody who witnessed or has more information regarding this incident is asked to contact Trooper Finley at the Vermont State Police St Albans Barracks at 802-524-5993.
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Categories: Crime
16 is plenty old enough to know that robbery and murder is wrong. I commend the man for getting a bachelors and masters while incarcerated. But I think another ten years would have been more fitting.
The minimum sentencing was ignored. Why have laws and courts and then ignore proper procedure?
Parker is the one who was contrite. His family valued educational attainment. Glad to hear he used his time and got a good educational foundation. It won’t be easy to be reacclimated into the community even with them. James, I hope you find some healthy solid value foundations to align with to help hold you accountable during your transition. Freedom has a sweet aroma if you know how to navigate in it without caving into mental challenges that will come. (A former Chelsea teacher.)
the fact remains, there is two dead persons and they are not coming alive again/// now, what was their lives worth in years lost///
correction/// there are two dead persons////
The person who murdered them is now educated and capable of again commiting murder.
Sorry, but if you take another’s life yours is forfeit, end of story.
Unless in defense of yours or another.
The justice system fails again. Judges, AG, DA don’t know what minimum means. Here is the definition -> the least or smallest amount or quantity possible. 23 year is not the number used , it was 25 minimum (if he is well behaved).