Today in Wheeling History: April 26--Stephen D. Richards, born in Wheeling, known as Nebraska's first documented serial killer and often referred to as the "Old West's Ted Bundy," was executed by hanging for multiple murders (1879).
Stephen Decatur Richards, born on March 18, 1856, in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), is infamously known as Nebraska's first documented serial killer. His family later moved to Ohio, eventually settling in the Quaker village of Mount Pleasant. Richards' early life in Wheeling remains largely undocumented, but his later actions cast a dark shadow over his origins. In 1876, Richards left his home and headed westward to seek his fortune. For a time, he found work at a local asylum; he claimed that during his time there, he lost all empathy for other people. When Richards later confessed to his crimes, he claimed to have committed his first murder sometime in late 1876, two weeks after arriving in Kearney, Nebraska. He went on to commit several other murders, which he later claimed were done in self-defense. Richards fled after murdering Mary L. Harlson and her three children, but was captured in Mount Pleasant. On April 26, 1879, Richards was executed by hanging in Minden, Nebraska, for the murders of the Harlson family and neighbor Peter Anderson. Richards was regarded as handsome and charismatic by some contemporary chroniclers, who described his appearance and behavior as completely obscured his nature as a cold-blooded killer. Many observed that he displayed a complete lack of remorse for his crimes and indifference toward his execution. Modern-day forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland has written that these characteristics were also displayed by serial killer Ted Bundy, and she has referred to Richards as The Old West 's Ted Bundy. The nature of Richards' crimes and his behavior after his capture led to a brief period of notoriety, as Richards was widely talked about in the media at the time. Richards has been featured in a handful of books and periodicals, including a posthumous biography, based on an interview conducted after his final arrest. The biography, which also included entries on other criminals of the time, was published in 1879 by the Nebraska State Journal. In modern times he is known as Nebraska's first documented serial killer in Nebraska and the first person to be executed by the state.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4p6mvd38), Only In Your State (https://tinyurl.com/mr3z9s8n), Murderpedia (https://tinyurl.com/7rc73a6a)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
Stephen Decatur Richards, born on March 18, 1856, in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), is infamously known as Nebraska's first documented serial killer. His family later moved to Ohio, eventually settling in the Quaker village of Mount Pleasant. Richards' early life in Wheeling remains largely undocumented, but his later actions cast a dark shadow over his origins. In 1876, Richards left his home and headed westward to seek his fortune. For a time, he found work at a local asylum; he claimed that during his time there, he lost all empathy for other people. When Richards later confessed to his crimes, he claimed to have committed his first murder sometime in late 1876, two weeks after arriving in Kearney, Nebraska. He went on to commit several other murders, which he later claimed were done in self-defense. Richards fled after murdering Mary L. Harlson and her three children, but was captured in Mount Pleasant. On April 26, 1879, Richards was executed by hanging in Minden, Nebraska, for the murders of the Harlson family and neighbor Peter Anderson. Richards was regarded as handsome and charismatic by some contemporary chroniclers, who described his appearance and behavior as completely obscured his nature as a cold-blooded killer. Many observed that he displayed a complete lack of remorse for his crimes and indifference toward his execution. Modern-day forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland has written that these characteristics were also displayed by serial killer Ted Bundy, and she has referred to Richards as The Old West 's Ted Bundy. The nature of Richards' crimes and his behavior after his capture led to a brief period of notoriety, as Richards was widely talked about in the media at the time. Richards has been featured in a handful of books and periodicals, including a posthumous biography, based on an interview conducted after his final arrest. The biography, which also included entries on other criminals of the time, was published in 1879 by the Nebraska State Journal. In modern times he is known as Nebraska's first documented serial killer in Nebraska and the first person to be executed by the state.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4p6mvd38), Only In Your State (https://tinyurl.com/mr3z9s8n), Murderpedia (https://tinyurl.com/7rc73a6a)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
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