Former Penn professor who murdered his wife ordered to pay millions to her estate

A former Penn economics professor who bludgeoned his wife to death has reached a multimillion dollar settlement with her estate.

The agreement reached between Rafael Robb and the estate of his late wife, Ellen Gregory, stipulates that 75% of the value of Robb’s investment and pension assets will be transferred to the Gregory estate. 

Rafael Robb killed his wife, Ellen Gregory Robb, in 2006, during an argument while she was wrapping Christmas presents. He at first told the police that the murder was committed by burglars, according to The Telegraph. Robb pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 2007 and was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison with 10 years of probation. He was released from prison in 2017 and will be on probation until January 2027.

Following a November 2014 civil trial, Robb was ordered to pay $124.4 million to his wife’s estate, which consisted solely of his daughter, The Mercury reported. The assets he is ordered to pay will help satisfy the $124.4 million verdict.

Previous testimony revealed Robb’s assets included an estimated $2.2 million retirement account and more than $500,000 from several individual retirement accounts. Under the settlement, Robb's Upper Merion Township home, in which Gregory was killed, will also be sold, with 75% of the proceeds going to Gregory's estate and 25% of the proceeds going to Robb.

Prior to her murder, the deceased had retained a divorce lawyer and was planning on moving out.

Robb was originally given parole in 2013, which was then revoked after heavy lobbying from the Gregory family and Pennsylvania state representatives. It also came to light that he had financially coerced his daughter, Olivia, who was 12 at the time of the murder, into supporting his efforts at parole. Upon her refusal to send a letter to the parole board on his behalf, Robb had threatened to stop supporting her financially.