Man, 81, receives life with parole in slaying

Molly Ball

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 11:14 a.m.

An 81-year-old man who admitted he killed his 73-year-old girlfriend will serve at least 15 years in prison.

Senior District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski sentenced Jerry Duncan to life in prison for the two charges, second-degree murder and aggravated stalking, to which Duncan pleaded guilty, with parole possible after 15 years.

Duncan stabbed Norma Laub to death in the parking lot of a beauty salon on Rainbow Boulevard near Sahara Avenue in June. He was arrested after calling 911 and reporting the killing, saying he had taken pain pills and hoped to die.

One of Laub's five children, Joel Laub, spoke at the sentencing hearing. As the winter holidays approach, Joel Laub said, the family members miss their mother even more acutely.

"Next Thursday, she will not be at our house for Thanksgiving, and in four more weeks, she won't be with us for Christmas," Joel Laub said.

Duncan apologized, his voice choking up as he said, "I miss her so much."

"I tried to go with her, but I failed," Duncan said.

Duncan's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Nancy Lemcke, said Duncan committed the crime because he was despondent that Norma Laub, his girlfriend and caretaker for more than 10 years, had left him.

With multiple serious medical problems and having just had major back surgery, Duncan had reached a "breaking point," Lemcke said.

"He felt like he had nothing else to live for," she said.