Man who killed Dartmouth professors at 17 seeks reduced prison sentence

A 43-year-old man who was 17 when he and a friend murdered two Dartmouth College professors in 2001 is seeking a reduction in his life sentence to a minimum of 30 to 40 years. Robert Tulloch, currently incarcerated in New Hampshire, was originally given a mandatory life without parole sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the killings of Half and Susanne Zantop. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that such mandatory sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional, and this decision was later applied retroactively. Tulloch’s resentencing hearing, which marks the final case among five juvenile lifers in New Hampshire, is set to begin Monday in Grafton County Superior Court. Tulloch and his accomplice, James Parker, carried out the murders in 2001 when both were teenagers. According to court documents, the two boys were from Chelsea, Vermont, and became bored with their lives, leading them to devise a plan to kill strangers, steal their money, and flee to Australia. Over several months, they knocked on doors in New Hampshire and Vermont, posing as environmental researchers. They gained entry into the home of the Zantops, a married couple who lived in Hanover, New Hampshire. Susanne Zantop, 55, was a professor of German studies at Dartmouth, while her husband, Half Zantop, 62, taught Earth sciences. During the crime, Tulloch stabbed Half Zantop, and then instructed Parker to attack Susanne Zantop. Both victims were found dead in their home. Evidence linking the suspects included fingerprints on a knife sheath and a bloody boot print left behind. After being questioned by police, the two teenagers fled Vermont and hitchhiked westward. They were eventually arrested at an Indiana truck stop weeks later. Parker, who cooperated with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to being an accomplice to second-degree murder, was released on parole in 2024 at age 40. He had served nearly the minimum term of his 25-years-to-life sentence. During his parole hearing, Parker described the crime as “unimaginably horrible” and acknowledged that nothing he could do would undo the harm he caused. In a recent court filing, Tulloch’s attorneys, Richard Guerriero and Oliver Bloom, argued that a minimum sentence of 30 to 40 years is appropriate, citing similar cases involving juvenile offenders in New Hampshire and across the United States. They noted that Tulloch has shown signs of maturity over the years, with no major infractions since 2012 and no minor ones since 2017. Most of his disciplinary issues were related to possessing excessive numbers of books, according to the filing. The attorneys also referenced Tulloch’s therapy records, stating that he has expressed “significant remorse” for the crime, acknowledging it as “heinous and unforgivable.” He described his actions as stemming from “warped youthful thinking” and emphasized his “good capacity for empathy.” The Supreme Court rulings specifically targeted mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles, allowing for the possibility of resentencing but not eliminating the option entirely. As a result, the United States remains the only country that permits discretionary life sentences for minors. While 28 states and the District of Columbia have outlawed the practice, five other states still allow it, though none currently have individuals serving such sentences. New Hampshire lawmakers have previously rejected proposals to abolish life sentences for juveniles. However, Tulloch’s case may provide momentum for future legislative efforts. In 2018, Tulloch challenged the constitutionality of life sentences for juveniles under New Hampshire law, prompting a request for the state Supreme Court to weigh in. The court declined to rule on the issue, but in July of last year, Superior Court Judge Lawrence MacLeod ruled that such sentences violate the state constitution by constituting “cruel or unusual” punishment. As the resentencing hearing approaches, the state has yet to announce its position on what sentence it might seek. The outcome of Tulloch’s case could influence ongoing debates about juvenile justice reform and the treatment of young offenders within the criminal justice system.