NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In the 1980s, a heinous murder case seized the attention of New York City, leaving an indelible mark on its history. The infamous murderer who the police referred to as the "Central Park Strangler," has now been released from prison, having completed a second sentence for drug and assault charges. At the age of 19, Chambers confessed to the murder of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin, whose lifeless body was tragically discovered, partially clothed, in Central Park. Claiming the incident to be an accidental outcome during a consensual yet violent sexual encounter, Chambers soon became a household name as the city grappled with the shocking details of the case.
With his fate hanging in the balance, Chambers faced a trial that eventually reached an impasse, leading him to accept a plea deal for first-degree manslaughter, resulting in a prison term of 15 years. He was released in 2003 after serving the full sentence. However, legal troubles continued to follow him, leading to another arrest in 2007 on charges of drug possession and assault. Chambers was released from the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York on Tuesday, July 25, according to the Department of Corrections.
Where is Robert Chambers now?
Currently, the whereabouts of the 56-year-old Chambers remain uncertain. He is slated to be on parole until 2028. In 2005 and again in 2007, Chambers was arrested on drug charges, the latter involving the sale of drugs from his own apartment. During the second arrest, Chambers resisted arrest when the police attempted to handcuff him. During the subsequent legal proceedings, Chambers' lawyer argued that he had battled drug addiction since the age of 14. By 2007, he was consuming a staggering 10 to 12 bags of heroin daily. In an attempt to defend his actions, Chambers planned to enter a plea of insanity. However, prosecutors contended that he was, in fact, a drug dealer, which led to a different outcome. In light of the evidence against him, Chambers was sentenced to 19 years in prison for his involvement in drug-related activities, marking another significant chapter in the turbulent life of the man once dubbed the "Preppy Killer" by newspapers because of his clean-cut, good looks.
How did Jennifer Levin die?
Jennifer Levin had been out with her friends at a popular bar called Dorian's, located near Central Park, the night before her tragic death on August 26, 1986. Her friends informed the police that they remembered Levin talking to a young man, Chambers, outside the bar. Some even recalled seeing them leave together at the end of the evening. Upon visiting Chambers' house on the same day, the police noticed scratches on his face, similar to the ones found on Levin's neck, suggesting that she had tried to defend herself during the attack.
Initially, Chambers tried to attribute the scratches to his cat, but he agreed to accompany the police to the station for further questioning about Levin's death. During the initial questioning, Chambers claimed that he had only seen her briefly outside the bar before parting ways. However, when the police confronted him with eyewitness accounts of them walking together, his story began to shift. He confessed that not only did he and Levin go to Central Park that night, but he also admitted to killing her.
According to him, Levin had asked for "rough sex," during which she tied his hands with her underpants while stimulating him. He stated that things got out of hand due to his significantly larger size, and he managed to free himself, pushing Levin away. Tragically, she fell and died from the impact of hitting the ground.
Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau said, "While he spent much of his life in and out of prison, Levin's family wonders what life would be like if she were still alive." The victim's mother, Ellen Levin, spoke out after Chambers was first released for the manslaughter charge, saying, "I think [about] what Jennifer might be doing, what she would look like," per Daily Mail. "I think about the grandchildren I won't have. Her dream was to be a designer, but that's gone now. And all that loss runs deep."
