Press-Republican

Local News

May 31, 2007

Child killer dies in prison

Albert Rock was convicted of 1967 murder of local girl

PLATTSBURGH -- A little over a month after he was denied parole to a Veterans Administration health facility, convicted child killer Albert Rock died at Wende Correctional Facility.

According to Linda Foglia, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, Rock, 63 and formerly of Schuyler Falls, died of natural causes at the western New York prison.

In April, Rock appeared before the Parole Board in a wheelchair and was denied parole for the 11th time in 20 years. He died May 17.

"All my family can say is we're relieved this chapter of this story is over. This book can be closed," said Deborah Conners, sister of the murdered girl.

Rock was convicted in 1972 of the ax murder of Laura Conners, 6, of Schuyler Falls. Her tiny body was found in a shallow grave near Mother Cabrini Shrine in Peru. She had been sexually molested, badly beaten and killed with a hatchet.

Since 1967, Rock had been either in a prison or in a psychiatric facility. He was arrested on June 28, 1967, the day after the murder, and ruled mentally unfit to stand trial.

He had been released from a mental hospital 10 days before the murder. At that time, mental-health professionals said he was a danger to himself and others.

He was tried in 1972 before the late Judge Robert Feinberg, using the defense of insanity. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

At his most recent parole hearing, which was the first he had attended in eight years, he denied killing Laura with a hatchet and sexually molesting her. He said he hit her with his truck.

The Parole Board noted in its April ruling: "During the interview, you demonstrated little remorse and accepted no responsibility for your deviant actions."

botsford@westelcom.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News

Recent Article Comments
Albany Round-up

Photo of the Day
Strange News
Videos: Editor Picks
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart