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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 11/21/07 Section: News
Econ prof pleads guilty to bludgeoning wife to death
Rafael Robb, 57, admits to killing wife, Ellen; accepts plea deal for voluntary manslaughter charges
Emily Babay
Economics professor Rafael Robb pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Montgomery County court this morning.
Robb, 57, admitted to having killed his wife, Ellen, in the couple's Upper Merion home on Dec. 22, 2006. Rafael Robb said in court that he killed Ellen Robb with a chin-up bar after the couple had an argument about whether their daughter, Olivia, would return from an upcoming vacation before the end of Christmas break.
"I just lost it," said Robb, who also apologized to Ellen's family - more than a dozen family members and friends were in the courtroom - his own family and his daughter.
Robb's trial, in which he would have faced first-degree murder charges, was scheduled to begin Monday. If convicted, he would have faced life in prison.
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor filed the manslaughter charge Monday morning, after it became clear Robb would admit to the crime.
With the plea, Robb will receive a considerably lighter sentence. Standard sentencing guidelines call for 4 ½ to 6 years in prison, though Castor said he would seek a "substantial" sentence above the guidelines. The maximum sentence Robb could receive is 10 to 20 years in prison.
Sentencing will likely take place in about four months, defense attorney Frank DeSimone said.
Robb, 57, admitted to having killed his wife, Ellen, in the couple's Upper Merion home on Dec. 22, 2006. Rafael Robb said in court that he killed Ellen Robb with a chin-up bar after the couple had an argument about whether their daughter, Olivia, would return from an upcoming vacation before the end of Christmas break.
"I just lost it," said Robb, who also apologized to Ellen's family - more than a dozen family members and friends were in the courtroom - his own family and his daughter.
Robb's trial, in which he would have faced first-degree murder charges, was scheduled to begin Monday. If convicted, he would have faced life in prison.
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor filed the manslaughter charge Monday morning, after it became clear Robb would admit to the crime.
With the plea, Robb will receive a considerably lighter sentence. Standard sentencing guidelines call for 4 ½ to 6 years in prison, though Castor said he would seek a "substantial" sentence above the guidelines. The maximum sentence Robb could receive is 10 to 20 years in prison.
Sentencing will likely take place in about four months, defense attorney Frank DeSimone said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Outraged Alum
posted 11/26/07 @ 4:44 PM EST
10-20 years max? are you f-ing kidding me? the man brutally beat his wife beyond recognition with a chin-up bar! and then tried to make it look like an intruder did it. (Continued…)
Alum
posted 11/26/07 @ 5:32 PM EST
according to CNN.com, Robb faces "a prison sentence of no more than seven years"
Penn '08
Undergrad
posted 11/26/07 @ 6:04 PM EST
Knowing the leftist Faculty Senate, they'll vote against self-disclosure of criminal records for faculty hires and Robb will end up back @ Penn in no time!
curious
curious
posted 11/26/07 @ 7:15 PM EST
Hi, I was wondering how Robb was regarded by students and colleagues before news of his crime emerged. Was he well-liked, antisocial, eccentric, etc?
Undergrad
posted 11/26/07 @ 11:27 PM EST
Umm...why does the Economics department still have him listed on their page/why does he still have his Penn personal website? Is he still technically considered faculty here?
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