Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Robert Chambers, popularly known as the Preppy Killer, was released from prison in July 2023 from the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York. He had been serving a maximum sentence of 19 years after he was caught selling drugs from his home in 2007. However, he was released after 15 years and will now be under supervision for five years after the release. This was Chambers’ second sentence after he served in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin, CBS News reported.
On August 26, 1986, Jennifer Levin was found almost nude with her arms and legs sprawled in Central Park behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A bicyclist reportedly found her and contacted authorities, who charged Robert Chambers with the murder. Moreover, the bicyclist reported a tall man in khaki pants lingering suspiciously around the crime scene. Levin and Chambers had been dating for weeks prior to her murder. She was seen leaving a bar with Chambers early that morning.
An autopsy revealed that she had died due to strangulation, per The New York Times. Pinpoint hemorrhages suggested a restricted flow of blood to the neck and severe compression on the neck. Robert Chambers was arrested on August 27 and made a video admission after his arrest.
In the clip, he claimed to have killed Jennifer Levin accidentally after she hurt him during sex in the park. He also claimed that Levin tied Chambers’ hands up with her panties. The outlet reported that a pair of panties were found about 40 to 50 feet away from the crime scene.
How many years was Robert Chambers sentenced to?
In 1988, nine days into the deliberation, Robert Chambers pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. It was part of a plea deal that ensured a lower sentence upon admission of guilt. The plea came after three months of trial, gaining media attention.
After he pleaded guilty, Chambers was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison. He served time in the Auburn State Prison. Chambers was later moved to the Clinton Correctional Facility after he was accused of drug possession and assaulting a guard, reported Oxygen. He completed his sentence of 15 years before he was released in 2003. After serving his first prison sentence, he reportedly attempted to get a full-time job.
As per the outlet, he was found to be selling drugs from his girlfriend Shawn Kovell’s Manhattan apartment in 2007. Authorities then charged Chambers with a maximum of 19 years in prison. Before this, he was caught in 2005 when a police officer pulled up his car, and a piece of tin foil dusted with cocaine was found. He was released in July 2023 at the age of 56 and will remain under supervision for the following five years until 2028.
As for his educational background, Chambers reportedly graduated from the York Preparatory School in Manhattan, New York City. He was also a student at Boston University for half a year.
