A high school student named James Parker, together with his friend Robert Tulloch, murdered Dartmouth professors Half and Susanne Zantop in their home in a plot to rob them and move to Australia. The teenagers were invited into the Zantop’s home after claiming to conduct a survey on climate issues. However, once inside, Tulloch stabbed Half and urged Parker to stab Susanne. The boys did not know the couple and selected their house based on its appearance and location. They had planned to rob random captives before killing them to get the money they needed to move to Australia, but they only managed to steal $340.
After leaving the sheaths of their knives at the crime scene, Parker and Tulloch were tracked down by the police. Initially, the police suspected a crime of passion, but evidence such as fingerprints on the sheaths and a bloody boot print led them to the two boys. Nearly 25 years after the crime, Parker appeared before the New Hampshire state parole board and expressed deep remorse for his involvement in the murders. He recounted how he and Tulloch were attempting to start a new life overseas. Parker expressed his sorrow and acknowledged that nothing he could say or do would alleviate the pain he has caused.
Despite being known as class clowns in high school, those who knew Parker and Tulloch were shocked by the violent crimes they committed. Parker’s attorney, Cathy Green, highlighted her client’s exemplary behavior and personal growth during his time in prison, including earning degrees, creating art pieces on display, and contributing to the educational development of inmates. Parker was sentenced to life in prison but appealed this after a Supreme Court ruling made it unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile to mandatory life imprisonment. He has since withdrawn his petition for resentencing after the Zantop’s daughter expressed her disapproval.
The parole board granted Parker early release after he testified against Tulloch and spent over two decades in prison. Parker expressed deep gratitude for the privilege of living in the community and has chosen not to speak to the media out of respect for the Zantop family. Despite the emotional nature of the parole hearing, Veronika Zantop, the surviving daughter, offered her best wishes to Parker and his family and expressed a desire for healing. Her parents, who were killed in their home, were German immigrants and prominent figures at Dartmouth University who were remembered for their kindness and open invitations to students and colleagues.
Robert Tulloch, the other teenager involved in the crime, received a mandatory life sentence without parole for first-degree murder. However, following the 2012 Supreme Court decision about sentencing juveniles to life imprisonment, Tulloch and four other men are up for resentencing. Tulloch is awaiting a new sentencing hearing in June. The parole board’s decision to release Parker has sparked different reactions, with one of the Zantop’s acquaintances crying out in disapproval. Veronika Zantop acknowledged her grief for the loss of her parents’ presence and expressed gratitude for the support her family has received.