Convicted killer Robb's parole denied

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HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Rafael Robb, a former professor who pleaded guilty to killing his wife in 2006, has been denied parole, Pennsylvania's parole board said.

The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole announced Tuesday it had reversed a recent decision to parole Robb, a former University of Pennsylvania economics professor, after he had been imprisoned five years, the minimum amount of time under state law to be eligible for parole.

Robb, scheduled to be released next week from a Mercer County, Pa., prison, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2007 in the bludgeoning death of his wife, Ellen, as she wrapped Christmas presents in their home in December 2006, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

He was given a sentence of between five and 10 years, WXTF-TV, Philadelphia, said.

The parole board mentioned "a negative recommendation" by the trial judge in its denial of parole.

In a letter, retired Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Paul W. Tressler called Robb a "highly manipulative individual" and a threat to the public.