Robert Tulloch, sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of two Dartmouth College professors in 2001, is now eligible for release at age 62. At the age of 17, Tulloch pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Half Zantop and Suzanne Zantop, resulting in an automatic life sentence.
A retrial was sought for Tulloch following a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that found life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders unconstitutional, citing the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. At that time, Tulloch was among the few in New Hampshire serving such a lengthy sentence.
This retrial took place in Grafton Superior Court in North Haverhill, New Hampshire. Initially set for three days, it wrapped up in just about an hour. Both the state and the defense agreed on a sentencing recommendation of 45 years to life, which considered the time Tulloch has already served.
In addition to the sentence, specific conditions were set: Tulloch must avoid any form of contact with the Zantop family, including their daughters, and he cannot profit from the crime in any way.
Veronica Zantop expressed her grief and outrage over the impact of her parents’ murders on her family. She urged the judge to deny Tulloch any chance of freedom, stating, “This was not a crime of passion or revenge. He wasn’t on drugs. He wasn’t psychotic. He was just completely depraved.” Her plea emphasized the need for justice and the long-lasting pain caused by the crimes.
According to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, the Zantops’ murders were horrific and deeply impacted their community, friends, and students. He noted that while the re-sentencing followed new court decisions, the state aimed to ensure the sentence still reflected the severity of the crimes and offered protection for the Zantop family.
Reflecting on the past, Tulloch’s friend James Parker recalled how they planned to escape their boredom in Chelsea, Vermont by committing crimes, including their initial intention to kill strangers. They practiced this plan by gaining the trust of the Zantops, who were well-known faculty members at Dartmouth College.
During the attack, Parker testified that Tulloch stabbed Harf Zantop before directing him to assault Suzanne Zantop, resulting in both victims’ deaths. Their fingerprints and other evidence linked them to the crime, yet the two fled the state, attempting to evade capture until their arrest in Indiana.
Tulloch eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on April 5, 2022, which led to his life sentence. His accomplice, Parker, received a 25-year to life sentence after agreeing to testify against him. As of now, Parker is expected to be paroled in June 2024.
At a recent parole hearing, Parker described his actions as “unimaginably awful,” acknowledging the irreparable damage caused by their choices. Tulloch’s path ahead remains uncertain, but he is now eligible for parole consideration in the future.
