Tenth Anniversary of Richardson Family Murders in Medicine Hat

The peaceful street stands in stark contrast to the day in 2006 when police were called out after a body was seen in the home.

Inspector Brent Secondiak, then Patrol Sergeant recalls being first on scene.

“I couldn’t tell at the time if it was somebody in need of medical attention or if it was someone who was deceased – it was hard to tell.”

Once inside, police uncovered a chilling scene. Three members of the Richardson family were deceased. The father had been fatally stabbed 24 times, the mother a dozen times. Their 8 year old son was found with his throat slit.

“It was horrific, it was gruesome – it’s something I never want to see again. I’ve come to terms with it but it wasn’t pretty, it was the worst scene I’ve ever had.” said Secondiak.

The case propelled the seemingly sleepy southern Alberta city into the national spotlight as it was discovered those responsible were a 12 year old girl and her then 23 year old boyfriend Jeremy Steinke.

Sherri Zickefoose is a Calgary Herald reporter and author of Runaway Devil, a book based on the Richardson murders.

Zickefoosse said she remembers a city in shock as details of the case emerged at trial.
“I think people they didn’t even know what to do, they were just stunned. No one could even imagine that this could happen in their town much less anywhere else.”

It was revealed during trial the couple killed the family because they disapproved of their relationship.

What disturbed Zickefoose the most was reading the letters sent between the couple awaiting trial.

“They were very, very much out of touch with reality they were planning a future, they wanted to get married and run away and be together and you could tell their state of mind and to me that was the most frightening thing.”

Canada’s youngest multiple murderer received a 10 year sentence for the first degree murders, the maximum allowed for her age. She was credited 18 months for time served and ordered to spend 4 years in a psychiatric facility and the remaining 4.5 years under conditional supervision in the community.

Now 22, living in Calgary under minimal conditions from the court, J.R’s sentence will be complete on May 7th.

Steinke remains in an Edmonton prison where he continues to serve three concurrent life sentences. He’ll be eligible for parole in 2031.

Secondiak says the murders still weigh on the community.

“It was traumatic and it takes time to get over these things, the city has to heal but I think all in all it handled it well.”

Although the city continues to recover and those closest to the case have come to terms with the tragedy, they say the murders will forever haunt them.

by Leah Murray @CHATTV_LMurray

Tenth Anniversary of Richardson Family Murders in Medicine Hat

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