A man who played a part in the tragic stabbing deaths of two Dartmouth College professors in 2001 has been granted parole and released from prison. James Parker, who was 16 years old at the time of the crime, was convicted for his role in the deaths of Half and Susanne Zantop in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Parker's attorney, Cathy Green, confirmed on Friday that Parker is now a free man, with the condition of a "no contact" order with the Zantop family. Parker had pleaded guilty years ago to being an accomplice to second-degree murder and served a sentence slightly shorter than the minimum of 25 years to life.

During a parole hearing earlier this year, Parker expressed remorse for his actions, describing them as "unimaginably horrible." He acknowledged the irreversible nature of his deeds, stating that no amount of time served or efforts could change or ease the pain he caused.

The tragic events of more than two decades ago unfolded when Parker and his co-conspirator, Robert Tulloch, then 17, hatched a plan to rob the Zantops of their credit cards and ATM information in order to fund their relocation to Australia. Tragically, their scheme escalated, resulting in the fatal stabbing of the Zantops. After the heinous act, the perpetrators fled with $340 and a list of numbers from the victims.

A few weeks later, Parker and Tulloch were apprehended at an Indiana truck stop. Tulloch subsequently pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a mandatory sentence of life without parole. However, his case was later reassessed due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling deeming it unconstitutional to sentence juvenile offenders to mandatory life imprisonment without parole.

Half Zantop, 62, and Susanne Zantop, 55, were respected German-born academics at Dartmouth College. Susanne served as the head of the college's German studies department, while Half was a beloved professor of Earth sciences. Their untimely deaths left a lasting impact on the Dartmouth community and beyond.

Veronika Zantop, one of the couple's daughters, expressed her profound sorrow and longing for her parents in an email sent to The Associated Press in April. She mentioned the missed opportunities and experiences the family had been deprived of due to the tragedy. Despite the pain, Veronika extended her best wishes to Parker and his family, expressing hope for their healing process.

As James Parker begins his new life outside of prison, the case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences caused by senseless acts of violence and the long-lasting impact they have on the victims' loved ones.