Richard Speck: The World's Most Bloodthirsty Mass Murder
On December 6, 1941, one of the world’s most bloodthirsty mass murder was born, Richard Speck. He was born in Kirkwood, Illinois to a very religious family. He was the seventh child in the eight-child family. Very soon after he was born the family moved to Monmouth, Illinois. At age six, Speck’s father passed away from a heart attack, and his mother soon remarried. Due to this, he gained a new stepfather and was uprooted from his home and moved to Dallas, Texas. Their new stepfather was nothing but a drunk. He often broke out in verbally and physically abusive episodes, and the children were always the victims. When Speck was a child, he was considered a juvenile delinquent. These factors would later lead to violent and senseless crimes. He
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was a very bad student in school, and began to drink alcohol, which later led to alcohol abuse. At 13 years-old, he was arrested for his first time, and then dropped out of school at 16. In 1962, at 20-years old, he married a young 15-year-old girl, Shirley Malone. Soon after marriage Shirley gave birth to a baby girl, Bobby Lynn. Speck was often very violent with Shirley. His rages included rape of his spouse rape at knife point several times a day. During his marriage to Shirley, he was sentenced to theft and check fraud in 1963. He later was paroled in January 1965. It wasn’t soon after he found his way back in jail for aggravated assault, and was sentenced to 16 months. Sadly, he only served 6 months of the 16 he was supposed to have served. Their marriage ended by divorce in 1966. After their divorce, he moved around a lot to avoid multiple arrests. He moved to his sister’s house in Chicago to flee from the cops after he was questioned for a crime he had previously committed. After spending a few days in Chicago, moving from his sister’s house to some sleazy hotels every now and then, he travelled back to Monmouth, Illinois, where he lived with some friends from his early childhood. When Speck was younger, he committed a few petty crimes, but these crimes would later lead to lot of serious crimes.
Crimes Committed
While he was still married in 1965, he attempted to rob a woman at knife point, but was caught and sentenced to 15 months in jail. Once in Chicago, he spent his time doing odd jobs that never lasted, and drinking at bars. When drunk enough, he would brag about all the crimes he has committed in the past. Later in Chicago, he worked as a carpenter for some time before he began to get violent. In 1966, he robbed and raped 65-year-old Virgil Harris. Later the same month, on April 13, 1966, authorities found Mary Kay Pierce behind the bar she worked at with a ruptured liver due to a blow to the abdomen. They questioned Richard and he told the police that he would come in April 19th after he got over his illness. He never showed. When the police searched his hotel room, they found items that belonged to Virgil and items from local burglaries. On the run, Speck tried to find work on a barge, and registered at the National Maritime Union Hall. Of course, wherever Speck was, someone died. On July 2, 1966, 3 girls had been murdered in Indiana. The authorities wanted to question him about this matter, as he was in Indiana at the time, but he made his quick escape. Their bodies were never found. Also, in Michigan, authorities wanted to question him about the murders of four female victims, aged 7 to 60, but his sly nature allowed him to escape. After a night of drinking at a bar, he left and found his way to the doorstep of a student housing building for nursing students. On July 13, 1966, he found his way into the building, and once inside he gathered all the nurses up and told them to give him money. He allowed them to empty their purses, and then proceeding to tie them up using strips of bedsheets. On by one he carried them throughout the house to murder each victim. Each victim was tied, raped, and brutally murdered by either stabbing, strangulation, or both. Speck had murdered all the 8 nursing students by 3:30 a.m., except Corazon Amurao. After hours of waiting under a bed, Amurao ran out and shouted for help. Speck tried to commit suicide, and went to a hospital where the physician noticed his tattoo “Born to Raise Hell”. Authorities were called and Speck was arrested on July 17, 1966. “Speck was originally sentenced to death in the electric chair. When the Supreme Court declared capital punishment unconstitutional in 1972, Speck’s sentence was changed to eight consecutive terms of 50 to 150 years. He was refused parole a number of times and died of a heart attack at age 49” (Doorey).
Psychological Reasons
Richard Speck was a guy with obvious psychological issues.
The Triad of Symptoms is “The triad states that three common behaviors during childhood can point to murder-prone children: bed wetting past the age of five, animal cruelty and fire-setting” (Brice). The Triad of Symptoms, if performed early in life couldn’t have showed us that Speck could have become violent later in life. Speck’s actions led him to be categorized as a serial killer, because he killed 3 or more women over a period of more than a month, and because he needed psychological gratification. Even though Speck didn’t leave a lot of evidence or a signature, he is considered a disorganized offender. Meaning, his attacks were sudden, he didn’t know the victims, and they were very chaotic. Speck has never come out and told people why he did what he did, but there is some evidence that leaves investigators questioning his motive on the murders. Some research conducted on Speck during the time he was on trial suggests that he may have had the XYY karyotype. Which could very well prove his violent behavior. Sadly, after many investigations these reports of Speck having the XYY chromosome proved to be false. So why did he kill? To show his male dominance over women? I believe that Speck could have killed because of his rough childhood and following the abusive path of his stepfather, but just because his life was bad isn’t an excuse to murder women and not care about it later. I even think it was to get revenge on his mother for marrying and bringing such a hateful man into their home. While Speck was in jail, a rather bizarre video emerged about him confessing to the killings his did. He said he doesn’t remember feeling any emotion during the time, and doesn’t even remember the blood that he left all over the house. Also in the video, there’s footage of him being sexually assaulted by another male inmate, and it looks like Speck has breasts. It’s very possible that Speck was trying to be a woman, and
that could mean that he was afraid of women. Speck could have had to intention to kill not for male dominance, but out of fear. He has even told interviewers that he enjoyed engaging in sexual intercourse with men, so Speck could have very well been struggling with his sexuality and channeled his confusion and anger in a such a way.
was a very bad student in school, and began to drink alcohol, which later led to alcohol abuse. At 13 years-old, he was arrested for his first time, and then dropped out of school at 16. In 1962, at 20-years old, he married a young 15-year-old girl, Shirley Malone. Soon after marriage Shirley gave birth to a baby girl, Bobby Lynn. Speck was often very violent with Shirley. His rages included rape of his spouse rape at knife point several times a day. During his marriage to Shirley, he was sentenced to theft and check fraud in 1963. He later was paroled in January 1965. It wasn’t soon after he found his way back in jail for aggravated assault, and was sentenced to 16 months. Sadly, he only served 6 months of the 16 he was supposed to have served. Their marriage ended by divorce in 1966. After their divorce, he moved around a lot to avoid multiple arrests. He moved to his sister’s house in Chicago to flee from the cops after he was questioned for a crime he had previously committed. After spending a few days in Chicago, moving from his sister’s house to some sleazy hotels every now and then, he travelled back to Monmouth, Illinois, where he lived with some friends from his early childhood. When Speck was younger, he committed a few petty crimes, but these crimes would later lead to lot of serious crimes.
Crimes Committed
While he was still married in 1965, he attempted to rob a woman at knife point, but was caught and sentenced to 15 months in jail. Once in Chicago, he spent his time doing odd jobs that never lasted, and drinking at bars. When drunk enough, he would brag about all the crimes he has committed in the past. Later in Chicago, he worked as a carpenter for some time before he began to get violent. In 1966, he robbed and raped 65-year-old Virgil Harris. Later the same month, on April 13, 1966, authorities found Mary Kay Pierce behind the bar she worked at with a ruptured liver due to a blow to the abdomen. They questioned Richard and he told the police that he would come in April 19th after he got over his illness. He never showed. When the police searched his hotel room, they found items that belonged to Virgil and items from local burglaries. On the run, Speck tried to find work on a barge, and registered at the National Maritime Union Hall. Of course, wherever Speck was, someone died. On July 2, 1966, 3 girls had been murdered in Indiana. The authorities wanted to question him about this matter, as he was in Indiana at the time, but he made his quick escape. Their bodies were never found. Also, in Michigan, authorities wanted to question him about the murders of four female victims, aged 7 to 60, but his sly nature allowed him to escape. After a night of drinking at a bar, he left and found his way to the doorstep of a student housing building for nursing students. On July 13, 1966, he found his way into the building, and once inside he gathered all the nurses up and told them to give him money. He allowed them to empty their purses, and then proceeding to tie them up using strips of bedsheets. On by one he carried them throughout the house to murder each victim. Each victim was tied, raped, and brutally murdered by either stabbing, strangulation, or both. Speck had murdered all the 8 nursing students by 3:30 a.m., except Corazon Amurao. After hours of waiting under a bed, Amurao ran out and shouted for help. Speck tried to commit suicide, and went to a hospital where the physician noticed his tattoo “Born to Raise Hell”. Authorities were called and Speck was arrested on July 17, 1966. “Speck was originally sentenced to death in the electric chair. When the Supreme Court declared capital punishment unconstitutional in 1972, Speck’s sentence was changed to eight consecutive terms of 50 to 150 years. He was refused parole a number of times and died of a heart attack at age 49” (Doorey).
Psychological Reasons
Richard Speck was a guy with obvious psychological issues.
The Triad of Symptoms is “The triad states that three common behaviors during childhood can point to murder-prone children: bed wetting past the age of five, animal cruelty and fire-setting” (Brice). The Triad of Symptoms, if performed early in life couldn’t have showed us that Speck could have become violent later in life. Speck’s actions led him to be categorized as a serial killer, because he killed 3 or more women over a period of more than a month, and because he needed psychological gratification. Even though Speck didn’t leave a lot of evidence or a signature, he is considered a disorganized offender. Meaning, his attacks were sudden, he didn’t know the victims, and they were very chaotic. Speck has never come out and told people why he did what he did, but there is some evidence that leaves investigators questioning his motive on the murders. Some research conducted on Speck during the time he was on trial suggests that he may have had the XYY karyotype. Which could very well prove his violent behavior. Sadly, after many investigations these reports of Speck having the XYY chromosome proved to be false. So why did he kill? To show his male dominance over women? I believe that Speck could have killed because of his rough childhood and following the abusive path of his stepfather, but just because his life was bad isn’t an excuse to murder women and not care about it later. I even think it was to get revenge on his mother for marrying and bringing such a hateful man into their home. While Speck was in jail, a rather bizarre video emerged about him confessing to the killings his did. He said he doesn’t remember feeling any emotion during the time, and doesn’t even remember the blood that he left all over the house. Also in the video, there’s footage of him being sexually assaulted by another male inmate, and it looks like Speck has breasts. It’s very possible that Speck was trying to be a woman, and
that could mean that he was afraid of women. Speck could have had to intention to kill not for male dominance, but out of fear. He has even told interviewers that he enjoyed engaging in sexual intercourse with men, so Speck could have very well been struggling with his sexuality and channeled his confusion and anger in a such a way.