Richard Lemmon Jr., a 37-year-old Caucasian male from Bakersfield, California, met a tragic end on February 17, 1982. Lemmon had been utilizing a storage facility in Santa Clara to house his two motorcycles, a truck, and other personal belongings. During this period, he became acquainted with James Richard Curry, the manager of the storage yard. The two men initially maintained a cordial relationship; however, tensions arose between them, culminating in a fatal confrontation.
On that fateful day, Curry lured Lemmon to the storage unit under the pretense of discussing his stored items. Once inside, Curry produced a .38 caliber revolver and shot Lemmon once in the head, resulting in his immediate death. In an attempt to conceal the crime, Curry placed Lemmon's body into a wooden crate, sealed it, and left it within the confines of the storage locker. In a disturbing move, Curry later gifted one of Lemmon's motorcycles to his own son, further complicating the investigation.
The case remained unsolved until early January 1983, when Curry was apprehended in connection with multiple murders in the San Jose area. During interrogation, Curry confessed not only to the recent homicides but also to the murder of Richard Lemmon Jr. He provided authorities with detailed information about the crime and directed them to the storage unit where Lemmon's remains were discovered. This confession shed light on the circumstances surrounding Lemmon's death and brought a semblance of closure to the case.
James Richard Curry, born in Texas in 1946, had a criminal history that included serving prison time for robbery. After his release, he relocated to California, where he managed the storage facility in Santa Clara. Following his arrest in January 1983, Curry faced multiple charges for the series of murders he committed. However, before he could be brought to trial, Curry died by suicide in his jail cell. This development prevented the full extent of his crimes from being adjudicated in a court of law.
The murder of Richard Lemmon Jr., a 37-year-old Caucasian male, serves as a somber reminder of the unforeseen dangers that can arise from seemingly benign associations. The resolution of the case, albeit posthumously, underscores the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice and provide answers to the victims' families.
