Richard Speck: Mass Murderer

Alcoholic drifter Richard Speck stamped his name into the archives of American criminal infamy with the murder of eight student nurses in a Chicago student housing building on July 13, 1966. Even before his murderous rampage, he seemed obsessed with the criminal life, vowing that he would someday make headlines (Bachmann). A vast majority of Speck’s life was spent in prison or on the run, and his early life was no better. Born on December 6, 1941, to Benjamin and Mary Margaret Speck, Richard was one of eight children—three boys and five girls. His parents struggled to make ends meet for the family; his father picked up extra shifts at his various odd jobs. When he was old enough, Richard’s father would take him fishing, a pastime that allowed them a break from a deeply religious and strict wife and mother (Richard Franklin Speck 2011).
Richard’s life took its first tumultuous turn in 1947 with the death of his father. Craving the attention his father once provided for him, Richard began acting out at home and at school. His older sisters spoiled and coddled him. His teachers remarked that he acted more like a toddler than a second grader; he needed to be held and comforted constantly (Bachmann). His behavior only worsened after his mother married Carl Lindberg in 1950, and Richard and his younger sister moved with the couple to Dallas, Texas. There he attended J. L. Long Junior High School, dropping out of school without finishing eighth grade at age 15. He became even more troubled—a loner and a poor student. By this point, he had been arrested on multiple occasions for alcohol and drug abuse as well as larceny. At age 19, Speck had the words "Born to Raise Hell" tattooed on his left forearm, though it was clear that this was th...

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... 23) (Blanco). He herded the six of them together into the largest bedroom in the apartment. Once they had all taken a seat, Speck lit a cigarette and tried to make light-hearted conversation with the women. He insisted that he wouldn’t hurt them; he only wanted their money, as he hoped to jump a ship on its way to New Orleans. He began collecting money from each nurse. Pamela Wilkening, however, spat at him when he insisted on getting money from her. She said she would “pick him out of a line up” (Fornek). Speck shoved her away as another student nurse, Gloria Jean Davy (age 22), arrived home from a date with her fiancé. Speck waved his .22 at her as well, and she too nervously took a seat with the other nurses (Bachmann). As the night wore on, however, he grew increasingly agitated. He pulled out a switchblade and tore up bed sheets, binding their hands and legs.