What is Robert Chambers doing now? 'Preppy Killer' explains how Jennifer Levin's murder made his family 'victims' after second prison stint
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Robert Chambers is a free man after spending years behind prison cells for his involvement in selling drugs. This is reportedly Chambers’ second time getting out of jail. He was sentenced for the first time in 1988 for the 1986 murder of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin. In 2003, he was released from prison.
Chambers, who has earned the monikers 'Central Park Strangler' and 'Preppy Killer', however, did not get to enjoy life outside the jail for long as in 2007, he was again sentenced on charges of drug possession and assault. On July 25, he was released from New York's Shawangunk Correctional Facility. He recently spoke to Daily Mail after returning from a probation meeting while holding an envelope. He said, “I completed my drugs and violence course in the first year. And I realized that I needed to keep busy to keep out of trouble.”
“I got my legal research certificate, then I got a paralegal degree and I helped other inmates who needed legal help. My mother had always told me to do volunteer work. So I did it and I got caught up in it and I realized as long as I'm busy, I don't get in any trouble,” Chambers further said.
What is Robert Chambers doing now?
The 56-year-old will reportedly be on parole until 2028. It has been said that currently, he has been placed in a halfway house in New York State. However, it is not clear if his wife, Shawn Kovell, is still living with him. The two reportedly tied the knot during his second jail term.
Speaking about his future plans, Chambers said, “I need a productive way to live life. I need just a little bit of breathing room. I've told the parole to stay on me. Keep me on the street. I don't wanna go back to prison. Nobody wants to go there. What I want is to have a job and pay bills and then save up to get a driver's license and maybe get a car and we'll go from there. That's all I'm asking for.”
What did Robert Chambers say about Jennifer Levin’s murder?
Chambers has shown immense guilt over the crime that he committed decades ago. Levin’s body was found in Central Park on August 26, 1986, and eventually, the then-teenage killer was arrested and found guilty. He reportedly said, “Unfortunately, I think no matter what I do if there's any attention given it's always going to affect both my family and Levin family. The thing that hurts the most to me, is that they were forced to take on the burden of being victims. My family is victims because of my actions, but not on the same level as the Levins family.”
“But they lost their son basically. I'm here, they can see me but I'm not the same person. The Levins lost their daughter. I hate to speak as if I know what they're going through. And I hope that never again does anybody in history have to go through a parent losing a child regardless of the situation or the circumstances,” Chambers explained.
‘Stop dragging everyone else into it’
Chambers continued, “So I can't really speak for them, but I imagine that there's a lot of pain. They had to take on the role of victim and come to court and watch and listen and be the subject of discussions and gossip. And I caused that. I don't want that. I don't want that for anyone. I want people to understand that if you're going to say something about me. Say it. I don't care. But stop dragging everyone else into it. Because, just like everyone says, I need to understand that my actions have consequences that affect others.”
“The comments that people make, I might not know about it. But suppose my father hears it. He'll do his best to say yes, it's an unfortunate situation. I wish the Levins the best and move on. But where it hurts, is that the Levin family may overhear something about Jennifer that is absolutely not true. I assume it hurts because it's just a constant. I don't want that and that's always with me. So when people look at me and judge me, fine. But whether I'm a monster or misunderstood, I am a human being so I can only take on so much,” Chambers added.