Twenty years ago, tragedy struck the Dartmouth community. The violent actions of two local teenagers left many around Dartmouth grieving their losses and fearing for their safety. Since the founding of Dartmouth, the relationship between the College and the Upper Valley has also been one of give and take, and while these events could have been a permanent divide between the two, the local community bonded together, securing justice for the two beloved professors. The purpose of this article is not to relitigate an old case or cut open old wounds but to remember a story that is too often forgotten in the Dartmouth community. As the four-year cycle of college is bringing students in and out of Dartmouth, many either forget or miss entirely this harrowing story, yet this story is ingrained in Dartmouth’s past and should never be forgotten.
On January 27th, 2001, two teenagers drove from the town of Chelsea, Vermont to Etna, New Hampshire. Their names were James Parker and Robert Tulloch. After buying SOG knives (the same type used by special forces during the Vietnam War), they proceeded to the house of Half and Susanne Zantop.
The Zantops, married since 1970 and with two children, had both emigrated from Germany and met while studying at Stanford University – Half for his PhD in geology and Susanne for her master’s in political science. They had been teaching at Dartmouth since the mid-1970s, with Half being a popular professor of geology and earth science and Susanne the chair of the German department. Parker and Tulloch selected the Zantops house at random, not knowing the couple before knocking on their door. Posing as students doing a research study on earth science, they approached the Zantops house intending to gain access to Half’s bank account. They were looking for at least $10,000, which they would use to flee to Australia.
As Susanne was preparing dinner, Half Zantop allowed the two inside. Parker and Tulloch started to ask Half questions, and when the two did not seem to be fully prepared, Half told them as much, angering Tulloch. When Half turned away, Tulloch attacked him with his knife, fatally slashing him across the chest and face. When Susanne entered the kitchen, she met the same tragic fate.
After killing the Zantops, Parker and Tulloch stole $340 from Half’s wallet and fled, covered in blood. The two bodies left at the scene were not discovered until later that evening when a dinner guest arrived to find the tragic scene. Police originally had no leads or witnesses but eventually found a footprint and two knife sheaths. The sheaths were traced back to Parker, who told police that he had bought them with Tulloch to build a fort but later sold them. Police left and went to question Tulloch at his home, telling the teen that he was not required to speak to them. Tulloch cooperated, however, telling the same story as Parker and offering up his fingerprints and boots for matching purposes.
The next morning, Tulloch and Parker fled their homes, leading their parents to call the police (in spite of a note Parker left that read, “don’t call the cops”). The two drove to Massachusetts in Parker’s car, before ditching it and attempting to hitchhike to California. At the same time, police put out a warrant for the arrest of Tulloch and sought Parker for questioning. The pair made it to New Jersey, where a truck driver headed to Indiana gave them a lift west, broadcasting their location over his radio to alert authorities. A police officer responded, pretending to be another truck driver and offering them a ride west from Indiana. When the pair disembarked at a truck stop, they were arrested and taken back to New Hampshire.
Tulloch and Parker were indicted and tried as adults (even though Parker, 16, was still technically a minor) on several charges, including the murder of the Zantops. Parker agreed to testify as a witness against Tulloch in exchange for a lesser charge. Tulloch attempted unsuccessfully to be certified as mentally ill in order to evade charges. Both wound up pleading guilty, Parker to second-degree murder and Tulloch to first-degree murder. While Parker broke down in tears during his trial, Tulloch was emotionless and refused to look at the Zantops’ daughter, Veronika, as she read a victim impact statement aloud. Veronika Zantop said that her father’s name, translated from German, meant “help”, and that his generosity and openness was what made the crime possible, making “their deaths seem like the greatest violation”.
James Parker was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in prison with the possibility of parole after sixteen years. Robert Tulloch was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Both have had their sentences reviewed in recent years. In 2019, Parker asked for an early release from prison. His lawyer noted that, while in prison, Parker had obtained a master’s degree and had been a model prisoner. The move was divisive in the Dartmouth community, with Professor Alexis Jetter of the English Department, a close friend of the Zantops, saying that she was afraid of Parker being released. Jetter cast doubt on his rehabilitation in prison and noted that Parker had access to a high-powered lawyer that enabled him to receive a lighter sentence at trial. Conversely, Phil Pochoda, a friend of the Zantops, stated that lifting Parker’s sentence would send a message to other inmates that rehabilitation while serving time would be rewarded. Parker later withdrew his appeal and will remain in prison until at least 2024.
Meanwhile, Tulloch’s case came under review after the Supreme Court case Miller v. Alabama, in which the Court ruled that mandatory sentencing to life without parole was unconstitutional for minors. The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that Tulloch’s case would be reviewed for resentencing; however, as of now, no hearing date has been set. As of now, both Tulloch and Parker are held at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men, where it is reported they have minimal contact.
Looking back with twenty years of hindsight, these events strike one as bizarre. How could this happen here? Did this really happen here? Many current Dartmouth students were either not yet born or were only a toddler, meaning that we simply do not and cannot understand the full scope of these events. Twenty years later the story still strikes a chord, and with the popularity of true-crime podcasts and TV shows, one could even say that these events now fit into a certain part of our storytelling consciousness. However, slipping the case of the Dartmouth Murders into a fictionalized story or simply a compelling and suspenseful tale is not doing justice to these events. The Zantops were real people, and Tulloch and Parker are still paying for their crimes. These are not fictional characters on paper, but real, living-breathing people.
As we remember these events twenty years later, there is still a special message for us. In this hard time of COVID-19, we can look at these memories as a guiding example. When times were hard, the Dartmouth community did not fracture or divide like it easily could have but bonded together and overcame this tragic event. The unity and perseverance of the community twenty years ago should be a lesson to us now. As much as we might disagree or are divided on what will happen next, everyone still shares these haunting memories and the unity that overcame them.
Clemency for the guilty must be always balanced by justice for the victims and their families.
America is a police state, like one of the victim’s friends said, “releasing Parker early may lead other inmates to believe rehabilitation might lead to an early release”. This is a particular American way of thinking. I live in Heidelberg Germany, we I tell my German colleagues to quit trying to understand the Americans, because they don’t even understand themselves.
And your point is what ?
His point is that Americans don’t believe in improvement only over punishment. Uniquely usa mindset they are probably not even aware of, hence your question
Victims families accounts & how these unimaginable deaths continue to impact their lives should always be taken into account!
They say time heals, but, in this case it does not heal the ones that suffered the loss of their parents and it does not heal those that were at the college at that time. This killing was so senseless. The motive was money. For gosh sake get a job and earn it the right way!
Suzanne was my second cousin, adored by my father and grandmother. She and Half were loved. Their lives mattered.
These murderers should never be released!!
You are completely right, these two MONSTERS should remain behind bars, no matter how compliant or nicely they behave now. They are ruthless killers and have no conscience. I feel so badly for the victims, having their lives taken from them in such a horrible and brutal manner. My sincere condolences to the family of Half and Suzanne.
Absolutely no parole for James Parker and Robert Tulloch in the senseless murders of the Zantops. It’s sadly eerie how similar this is to Richard Loeb and Nathan in the murder of Bobby Franks. Both cases shocked the world and there was no remorse shown by them either. I hope Parker and Tulloch meet Leopold and Leopold in hell!
James Parker and Robert Tulloch senseless & brutal murders of Half & Suzanne Zantop is sadly reminiscent of The murder of Bobby Franks by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. In both cases the communities were shocked by motiveless & the lack of remorse.
I don’t understand how there could ever be release for anyone convicted of such a heinous crime. They need to stay in prison!
I remember that case. It was big news, tragic and horrendous. For the $340 they stole, they would have barely paid for the be passports they would have needed for a their flight to Australia. Impulsive teenage minds with only one thought for tomorrow: to get out of their small town…no matter what the cost.
They had parents with $, the $ the parents wasted on Lawyer Fees could’ve paid for University Fees abroad in Australia if they felt such a need to live in Australia. Obviously they weren’t good kids and happened to be evil and slaughtered 2 innocent good souls loved by many
I consider myself as “tough on crime” + generally support, if reasonable, law-and-order candidates. Yet James Parker has demonstrated remorse and thruout his incarceration has attempted to improve himself and the prison community. I cannot claim to fathom the enduring grief of the Zantop children at their parents’ brutal deaths but feel that Parker is the rare case of a juvenile murderer who has shown he deserves a second chance with careful monitoring.
He has shown regret, not true remorse. Remorse is conscience; regret is “I’m sorry I did it because look what it got me”. He has done a lot of self-serving good deeds in prison that might incidentally benefit others (who wouldn’t jump at getting out of their cage for a few hours to paint murals? Or taking, free of charge, university-level courses such as those taught by his victims?). He’s a big shot behind bars and enjoys that but, hey, it’s not Australia. Since he’s such a positive influence for the prison community let him remain there doing what he’s doing. The privileges he already has should be enough of a reward.
Ironically they will never go to Australia. Neither of them. Even if the one gets out in 2024, Australia doesn’t allow criminals sentenced over a certain number of years access to Australia
I have a theory that one of these boys did not commit the murder, although he was there with his friend. They were juveniles. I think that he should be released at some point. I sense that he was trying to protect and defend his parents some how.
I think it was the one who kept the murder weapon with his stack of comic books and left a note that said
“Don’t call the police”, when he ran away.
How did you come up with that theory? Read the story – not just the one that is here, but one that appeared in Reader’s Digest in 2003 and others. Jim, the one you are talking about, killed Suzanne on Robert’s orders. OK, Robert told him to do it, but he had a choice. He is guilty of murder. I don’t know where you get the idea he was protecting his parents. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that. Neither set of parents knew a thing about it.
A double murder with an incredible amount of violence and “no mercy” attitude directed at two perfect community citizens. I dont care how rehabilitated remorseful regretful they are. The release of either one from prison other than in a casket is a direct insult to the Zantop family. You take a life you should have to give yours in return by execution or life w/no parole. In this senseless murder both should 6 ft under by now from lethal injection.
To the Editors
I’ve just come across this story, at some years’ remove. I was quoted in the piece, which is why I stumbled across it now while looking for something else. I don’t usually respond to the Dartmouth Review, which has a sad, silly and destructive history at Dartmouth.
But this piece was written with some care and sensitivity, and so I am taking a moment to respond.
I am, as identified in your story, a close friend of the Zantop family and have already said my peace about their senseless and brutal murders. The less said about the two who killed them, the better.
But it is worth taking a moment, I think, to correct a few errors that continue to crop up in the occasional article and Letters to the Editor still written about Susanne and Half.
1. For starters: their killers were NOT looking for money. Tulloch, yes, came from modest means. Working class. Borderline poor. But Parker’s family is and was quite comfortable. The motive, then, behind the killing? The pure pleasure of slashing to death people who were begging for their lives. That was it. Thrill kill. That’s why I opposed and continue to oppose early release for either psychopath. Simply put: Nothing rehabilitates a person driven to murder for the pure pleasure of it — not any number of prison murals or good deeds done behind bars. Robert Tulloch and James Parker are sadistic killers and narcissists who are incapable of feeling any genuine remorse. Nor are they capable of rehabilitation, regardless of what some may wish.
2. Tulloch, who was far less savvy about manipulating the media and the criminal justice system, never tried to escape his fate, except for one brief attempt to plead innocent by virtue of insanity. He’s behind bars for the foreseeable future, until and unless life sentences for juvenile murderers are reversed.
3. Parker? He’s the one who ordered, online, the serrated Navy Seal combat knives and hid them under his bed (by the way, it’s worth Googling who paid for those knives. As I recall, he may have borrowed his parents’ credit card. )
4. It was Parker who slashed Susanne to death as she begged for her life, just a few feet from where Half lay dying.
5. Let’s take a moment, as well, to address the role of Parker’s parents. It was Parker’s father who gave the two killers an 8-12 hour head start before alerting police to their escape (“escape” being a charitable word for the fact that law enforcement failed to post even a single cruiser outside the Parker home after they knew that the teens were the killers.) Parker’s parents paid for a fancy, silk-suited lawyer from Palo Alto (if memory serves) to turn state’s evidence on Tulloch so that Tulloch, and only Tulloch, was sentenced to life.
6. This idea of Tulloch being the mastermind and Parker the reluctant underling only works if you are persuaded, as some appear to have been, by the slick lawyer who argued for mercy for Parker. Anyone with a nose for the stench of class privilege would come away knowing what bullshit that was.
7. It’s also worth noting that only pure luck protected a dozen other would-be victims from being slaughtered by the pair before they killed the Zantops. Tulloch and Parker carried shovels and body bags in their car, and traveled across the Upper Valley for weeks, knocking on doors and trying to get people to let them in.
8. Half, in his fatal kindness, was the first person—in all their many attempts— to invite them in, when they said they were conducting a survey for their high school science class. He could not have imagined that they would lunge at him just seconds later.
So, no: They weren’t looking for money. They wanted the satisfaction of slaughtering people, burying them on unmarked graves, and feeling the exhilaration, as they told to police: of being “bad asses.”
So yes. When news broke a few years back that Parker had asked to be released early, in the custody of his father I and others reacted strongly. Hand Parker over to the supervision of the man who paid for his son to escape justice three times? Once just hours after the murders. Again, months later, in a courtroom where Parker was coached, quite successfully, to feign remorse? And once again, 20 years later? Is Parker’s father really the kind of person you’d trust to watch your dog, let alone supervisor a psychotic, cunning, photogenic and charismatic young would-be serial killer, who was disappointed because he was able to slash only one woman to death?
I guess we’ll find out about all that, won’t we, when Parker — so handsome, accomplished, talented and worthy of redemption — emerges from his jail cell next year.
One more note: Please be a bit more cautious about who you identify as “a friend of the Zantops,” particularly those professing to speak for leniency toward their killers. It is true that there is a difference of opinion among us regarding the efficacy and fairness of the US criminal justice system. I am certainly not defending it. But no one can or should speak for Half and Susanne themselves, except for their own children. Anyone else who does should be ashamed of themselves. And I can assure you that the Zantop daughters, grown now with children of their own, would feel more at peace knowing that these killers will never attack their family, or anyone else’s, ever again.
I have never forgotten these two professors nor the neighbor next door saved because she had no time for these predators, nor the grandfather and his child that they unsuccessfully accosted the night before. They made three separate murder attempts before success and should never leave prison.
Why allow such people to continue to live
Agree totally with Alexis Jetter!
I never knew the Zantops, nor lived near Dartmouth. But I remember the crime. I remember they searched out and murdered in cold blood.
I do not believe these two evil minded people should be allowed out of prison. It is appalling that they actually live in such luxury, able to walk about freely within the prison, having access to a library, games, tv movies, ect.
It will only cause more pain to others to let them out.
Also even a young child knows right from wrong! And the notion of immature brain development caused them to murder is bunk! They were certainly aware of what they were doing!!!
They don’t even deserve a meal, a shower, or a place to sleep at night for what they did!! You deserve the same fate as Pamela Smart. Nothing. No meals, housing, a bed NOTHING!! Stay in there…and STARVE and ROT!!
This murder was as heinous as it gets and hit close to home for me. Nevertheless, it is disheartening to see how many commentators here are so judgmental and hard-hearted. The only ones who have a legitimate say in the matter are the daughters.