PUBLISHED: 11:24 EST, 17 January 2013 | UPDATED: 13:47 EST, 17 January 2013
The family of a woman brutally beaten to death by her Ivy League professor husband is furious that he is being released after serving just five years behind bars.
Rafael Robb, 62, admitted to bludgeoning his wife Ellen with a metal pull-up bar until she was ‘unrecognizable’ as she wrapped Christmas presents at their home in suburban Philadelphia in December 2006.
Prosecutors say the University of Pennsylvania economics professor was hoping to avoid a costly divorce. He claims he snapped in a ‘moment of madness.’
Outrage: Rafael Robb, seen here in 2007, has served just five years behind bars after beating his wife until she was ‘unrecognizable’
Horrific: Ellen Robb was wrapping Christmas presents when her husband attacked. Her family says authorities told them it was the ‘most horrific crime ever’ in the county
Robb will be released on January 28 after he was granted parole during his first appeal hearing.
Ellen Robb’s family is outraged and the Montgomery County District Attorney has asked the parole board to reconsider its decision.
‘Rafael Robb has shown zero indication of remorse throughout all the time following his murder of Ellen,’ the family said in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The parole board said in a statement that Robb has show good behavior in prison and that he has taken responsibility for his crime.
That has not appeased Ellen’s family, who say Robb has not truly been punished for the viciousness of his crime.
Horrific: The murder occurred at Christmas time after the husband and wife began fighting about their holiday vacation plans
‘The judge said this is the most horrific crime ever in Montgomery County. Now he’s being set free,’ Gary Gregory told NBC Philadelphia.
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says she recently learned that Robb is set to be released on parole later this month. She says she’s asked the state parole board to reconsider the decision.
Ferman says she thinks the board didn’t consider all issues surrounding the case.
Robb, who initially denied the attack, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in December 2007 and was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison
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