Richard Steeves

Serial Killer

Richard E. Steeves: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Early Life

Richard E. Steeves was born on February 1, 1942, in Waterville, Maine. His early life was marked by tragedy and hardship. At the age of five, his father committed suicide, leading his mother to place him in an orphanage. Steeves later reported that he suffered sexual abuse during his time in the orphanage, experiences that he claimed contributed to his later violent behavior. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began engaging in petty crimes, resulting in periods of incarceration in reformatories and jails. During his incarcerations, Steeves was known to threaten guards and fellow inmates, exhibiting early signs of violent tendencies. He was last released from prison in early 1965.

Crime Spree of 1965–1966

After his release, Steeves embarked on a series of violent crimes across multiple states, targeting elderly men in their homes. The following are detailed accounts of his known victims during this period:

• Harry Staples: On June 13, 1965, in North Berwick, Maine, 83-year-old Harry Staples was attacked in his home. Steeves beat him viciously with his own cane. Staples was found alive but succumbed to his injuries after two weeks in intensive care.
• Ralph Mace: On June 19, 1965, in Rochester, New Hampshire, 70-year-old Ralph Mace was stabbed six times by Steeves during a home invasion. Mace was found but died later the same day.
• Lorenzo D. Troyer: On August 14, 1965, in Augusta, Maine, 73-year-old Lorenzo Troyer was attacked in his cabin. Steeves beat him with a blunt object, leaving him unconscious. Troyer was found by a friend and taken to a hospital, where he died the next day.
• Lewis and Francis Gephart: In January 1966, in Coshocton, Ohio, Steeves befriended 84-year-old Lewis Gephart and his 35-year-old son, Francis, after his car broke down. They invited him into their home, where he bludgeoned both to death on January 3, 1966. Steeves then stole Francis's car and fled back to New Hampshire.

Arrest and Institutionalization

Steeves was apprehended shortly after the Ohio murders. He was charged with the murders in Ohio and New Hampshire but was not prosecuted for the Maine killings. During his trial in New Hampshire, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court accepted this plea, and Steeves was committed to the Concord Mental Hospital. In 1971, he sought extradition to Ohio for a speedy trial, but after psychiatric evaluations, he was returned to New Hampshire. By 1980, medical professionals deemed him no longer a threat, allowing him unescorted leave from the hospital grounds. In 1983, Ohio authorities decided not to prosecute him for the earlier murders, and he accepted a plea agreement resulting in a prison sentence of three to seven years. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Harry Staples Age: (83), Date of Death: 1965-06-13

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Richard Steeves - Wikipedia

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