Executive Summary
- Robert Tulloch was convicted of murdering Dartmouth professors Half and Susanne Zantop in 2001 at age 17.
- A 2012 US Supreme Court ruling banned mandatory life sentences without parole for minors.
- Tulloch is scheduled for a new sentencing hearing beginning April 20, 2026.
- The hearing is expected to last four days in Manchester, N.H.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Robert Tulloch, the man convicted of the 2001 murders of two Dartmouth College professors, has been scheduled for a new sentencing hearing in April 2026. The proceeding addresses legal requirements established by the United States Supreme Court regarding life sentences for juvenile offenders.
Tulloch is currently serving two concurrent life sentences for the killings of Half and Susanne Zantop. According to court records, Tulloch was 17 years old at the time of the crimes. The resentencing process was initiated following the 2012 Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. Alabama, which determined that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole are unconstitutional for minors.
Judicial officials have confirmed that the new hearing is scheduled to begin on April 20, 2026. The proceedings are expected to last for four days. The court will review the original sentence in light of the offender’s age at the time of the crime, complying with federal mandates to consider the mitigating factors of youth.
Judicial Review
This upcoming hearing highlights the retrospective impact of Supreme Court rulings on established criminal cases. While the conviction for the double homicide remains standing, the resentencing phase illustrates the justice system’s obligation to align past penalties with evolving Eighth Amendment interpretations. The court is expected to balance the severity of the capital offense against the constitutional protections now afforded to juvenile defendants, focusing on the potential for rehabilitation rather than re-litigating the facts of the murders.
