In the quiet, rural setting of Rochester, New Hampshire, a shocking act of violence shattered the peace on June 19, 1965. Ralph Mace, a 70-year-old White / Caucasian male, was brutally attacked in his home by an intruder. The assailant, armed with a knife, broke into Mace's residence and stabbed him six times. Though discovered alive, his injuries were severe, and he succumbed to them later that day.
The investigation into the murder of Ralph Mace soon revealed a horrifying truth: his
death was not an isolated incident but part of a multi-state killing spree. The man responsible was identified as Richard Edward Steeves, a 23-year-old from Waterville, Maine. Just six days before the attack on Mace, Steeves had assaulted 83-year-old Harry Staples in North Berwick, Maine, beating him with his own cane. Staples died from his injuries two weeks later. This marked the beginning of a violent rampage that would stretch from Maine to Ohio.
Following the murder in Rochester, Steeves's reign of terror continued. In August 1965, he claimed the life of 73-year-old Lorenzo D. Troyer in Augusta, Maine. His violent path led him to Coshocton, Ohio, where in January 1966, he murdered 84-year-old Lewis Gephart and his 35-year-old son, Francis. Steeves was eventually captured in New Hampshire and faced charges for his numerous crimes.
During his trial for the killings that occurred between 1965 and 1966, Richard Edward Steeves was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was subsequently institutionalized for over a decade. In a controversial decision, he was later released. However, his freedom was short-lived as he went on to commit another murder, which finally led to a sentence of life imprisonment. The tragic death of Ralph Mace remains a stark reminder of a violent chapter in the region's history, highlighting the devastating impact of one man's murderous journey.
