Richardson Family Muder

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders
By David Lohr

November 12, 2007

OTTAWA, ON, Canada — Jasmine Richardson, 14, the youngest person ever charged with multiple counts of murder in Canada, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for her part in the 2006 murders of her parents and little brother.

Richardson was just 12 years old on April 23, 2006, when authorities in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada found the bodies of her parents, Marc Richardson, 42, and Debra, 48, and her eight-year-old brother, Jacob, inside their home at 304 Cameron Road.

All three of the victims had been brutally murdered.



Jasmine Richardson


Jasmine Richardson was not found at the scene, leading authorities to initially believe she had been kidnapped; however, evidence quickly pointed to her involvement in the murders. The following day, police located Richardson and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jeremy Steinke, approximately 100 miles away in the town of Leader. The two were taken into custody, and both were charged with three counts of first-degree murder.



Jeremy Steinke


The motive in the case centered on Richardson and Steinke's secret relationship. When Marc and Debra found out about it, they had forbidden Jasmine from having contact with Steinke, angering the young lovers -- echoes of the David Ludwig/Kara Beth Borden case in 2005 and the famous Charles Starkweather/Caril Fugate case decades earlier.

A glimpse of that anger could be found on Steinke's now defunct Windows Live Space profile. On April 3, 2006, he wrote:

"Payment! My Lover's rents are totally unfair; they say that they really care; they don't know what is going on the just assume. As their greed continues to consume, she is slowly going insane. She continues to thank that I came, into her life to help her out, and to stop what they keep trying to shout. It's all total bullnuts. Their throats I want to slit. They will regret the nuts they have done. Especially when I see to it that they are gone. They shall pay for their insulince. Finally there shall be silence. Their blood shall be payment!" [sic throughout]



Jeffrey Dahmer


Numerous other profiles and blogs, allegedly belonging to the suspects, were also uncovered by police. According to Richardson's now defunct MySpace profile, her personal heroes included Jeffrey Dahmer, Criss Angel, Marilyn Manson, Dani Filth and Batman. Another of her profiles, found at VampireFreaks.com, described her as bisexual, Wiccan, nocturnal, awkward, loud, a deep thinker and insane. In addition, some of her interests were listed as "unnatural hair colors, dark poetry, criminal psychology, blood, human anatomy and "kinky s—t."

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders



By David Lohr

(Continued)

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One week after the murders, authorities arrested Kacy Danielle Lancaster, 19, and charged her as an accessory in connection with the triple slaying. According to Canadian news reports, Lancaster, a neighbor of Jasmine, destroyed evidence, gave a false alibi and helped the accused flee the area.

While there was a lot of media hype surrounding the arrest of Richardson and Steinke, police were hesitant to release information on the crimes, due, in part, to Richardson's age and Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act, which prevented her name from being published in Canada. Both the media and the public would have to wait until the suspects' trials to learn the details of what occurred on that fateful day in April 2006.



Jasmine Richardson


Richardson's trial began on June 4, 2007, nearly 14 months after the murders took place. Without a single family member in the courtroom to support her, Richardson stood sobbing before Court of Queen's Bench Judge Scott Brooker, as she pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. With her plea on record, the first week of the proceedings centered on the admissibility of the prosecution's evidence.

When it came time to present their case, prosecutor Stephanie Cleary alleged that the murders were premeditated and that Richardson had participated in them. Key witnesses in the case included two of Richardson's friends, neither of whom has been publicly identified.

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders



By David Lohr


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(Continued)
While on the stand, the first witness told the court that prior to the murders, she had had a conversation with Richardson in the school bathroom, in which Richardson said she wanted to kill her parents.

"I didn't think she meant it," the witness testified. "I thought she was saying it out of anger."

The second witness to testify said she was Richardson's best friend and that the two girls "pretty much lived at each other's houses on weekends." She stated to the court that Richardson told her she had first met Steinke at a local mall and that he was only 17 years old. When asked if she ever confronted her friend about Steinke's age, the witness replied:

"I guess I just decided to keep that out of my mind. I never really got good feelings about him, especially because of the age difference... I never really thought of him as dangerous. I just thought he was older and really immature for his age."



Kacy Lancaster


On June 28, Kacy Lancaster was called to testify. "I want to tell the truth. The whole truth," she said shortly after taking the stand.

According to Lancaster, she met up with Richardson and Steinke shortly after the murders took place and drove them, along with two other teens, to the town of Leader, where they were later arrested by police. She said Steinke had had a black eye and that Richardson had told her to lie about how he received it and about when the group met up.

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders



By David Lohr

(Continued)

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"[Richardson] told us to tell cops that we picked her up at 11 p.m. the night before and that Jeremy and Cam [Barkley] (an associate) got into a fight because they'd been drinking," Lancaster said.

Lancaster also testified that Steinke had asked the girls to wipe down the inside of his pickup truck before they left on the trip.

"He said there was some stuff on the seat he didn't want his mom to see," Lancaster explained. "... I was stoned. I didn't ask questions."



Kacy Lancaster


According to Lancaster, she knew nothing about the murders and was under the impression that Richardson and Steinke were running away together.

On June 29, CTV.ca published several jailhouse letters Cleary entered into evidence, which were allegedly exchanged between Richardson and Steinke after their arrest. The letters contained vulgar language and numerous misspellings and grammatical errors.

Exhibit 64: Richardson to Steinke

I love you with all my heart and no matter what happens please don't forget that people are lying, including casey. I feel very alone stay strong God I can't write what I feel but I love you eternaly Try to hope, there is only so much bonds of flesh can do to the soul. Kisses.

Exhibit 65: Steinke to Richardson

... I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry, I love you with all my heart and that will never change. OMIT I broke I confessed. I'm sorry! I love you I truely do... and I hope that one day I may be able to gaze into your eyez once again...I sleep with your note in my hand every night. the only thing pushing me through this is the thought of you. I wish we could just go back in time and run...run far away and never look back. Never forget how much you mean to me or how much I love you! Wtihout you I feel so empty and whish I could just die...no matter what I'm with you in mind and spirit. once the time comes I hope to be with you in body too. Keep this note close 2 your heart if Ican write again I shall. Kisses Jeremy.

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders



By David Lohr

(Continued)

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Exhibit 66: Richardson to Steinke

Dear my loverly Bas——-

Please dont be sorry. I'm the one who needs to be begging your forgiveness If only we ran, yes but don't obsess on what could have been. In due time we shall have our castle. I am not whole without you. I love you with everything I am. I'll never stop and my promises shall be kept however desolate it seems and shall become take it one day at a time. It can only get so bad before it gets better. I will be with you in spirit. I hope your doing alright. However large a task please dont stress out to much. Having your sanity might be helpfull. More than anything I wish to be with you and hold you again. But until that time comes know I love you. In joy and sorrow my Sweet 666.

Exhibit 67: Steinke to Richardson

Dear Cuddlebunny:

I'm sure that you are right, what's done is done. You need not ask for my forgiveness. Indeed in due time our Empire shall be complete. Before you I was half and now that I am whole, I can't go back to being half. Your the air that I breathe, your my Moon when it breaks through the clouds at night, your all that I need. I long to feel your soft skin, I yearn for your kisses, for they could get me high. I hope that you stay true to your words. My entire faith has been bestowed unto you. With your words, I shall remain strong. For you. Sometimes I have troubles sleeping at night, but I'm sure the thought of you helps me get through the nights. In due tyme we shall be together once again... but until that day —— stay strong, keep hope and have faith! I love you with all my heart and soul! Never forget that ok my love. Till we speak again. xxoxox Jeremy

Exhibit 68: Richardson to Steinke

Never has a person affected me so much. Always will there be something missing without you with me. My lawyer tells me we're ledgends, ha, closer to imortality it would seem. Monday im being moved to Calgary. SADNESS. I need to stay in contact.

Exhibit 69: Steinke to Richardson

Dear

I love you more than life its self, I've added you to my visitors lists so once your released please visit often. Never forget how much I care or that I love you. We can keep writing each other till we can be together again. Without you this life isnt worth living. "kisses" The thought of being with you is all that is helping me stay some what sane. We shall be 2gether again I promise. Stay true to your promises and I shall to mine. Casey continues to lie. I wish I could hold you right now, stay strong and continue to write me please... I need you I love you I miss you! KISSES, XOXOXO

PS. U said you want to get engaged? Then here's a Q...Will U marry me? If so then it is a verbal agreement!

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders



By David Lohr

(Continued)

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Exhibit 70: Richardson to Steinke

May my heart become cold to all others ©

Dear Jeremy,

Ahahaha! I never thought I'd find myself hystericaly laughing in a holding cell in these kinds of circumstances...or ever really. But still! ahaha you make me so happy! Yes! Yes! I will, I would love to. Of course I'll come visit. Youll'll have to find where your being held. Ahaha. god im so happy. I must be happily insane then. either way apparently I get a phycistrest. Interesting information i came across. Anything you can say to anyone, including a phycistrist, unless issued by a lawyer can be used against you! For fxxks sake. Rawr. The world really is against us. Do you have a lawyer yet? Do you know where you your going in the near future? Oh I wish I could hold you and make you feel better! Argh, I love you so much. I'm going crazy. Have you been in jail before? Ha, i've counted and at times during the day a guard will come to "see if i'm okay every 90 to 120 seconds. LOL (laugh out loud)

Oh did Casey happen to be in love with you?

We've been in the papers everyday. apparently. I haven't seen them but hopefully can Monday. Everything related to me knows that I'm in jail and what not but don't know anything other than the charges and seemingly doesn't belive because my aunty says they still love me. Although it was as if i wasn't alive before. Oh remember that gift I had for you? It was a charm bag I had made for your well-being and such. You may think it's stupid but I put a unusualy large ammount of effort into it. I belive the planetary alignment and everything else that takes months to explain was correct so its still helpful I suppose. I'll pray and reiki you. You will have no choice in the matter. In regards to the first time i snuck out we're "safe" I want to be able to talk to you soo bad. I have far to much free time alone, mixed with my fear of isolation. Well your the only thing keeping me strong. list. I have so much to say and contemplait but im going on here. XOX.

Dreams filled with visions of us help us through

[Cassie]

Canadian Court Sentences Jasmine Richardson in Her Family's Murders



By David Lohr

(Continued)

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The letters mentioned no remorse or any tinge of guilt by either party. Both Richardson and Steinke seem more concerned with their predicament than the crimes that led to their arrest. They also painted a different picture of Richardson than the one she portrayed of herself when she took the stand in her own defense on July 3.



Jasmine Richardson


During her testimony, Richardson told the court she had "hypothetical" conversations with Steinke about killing her family and possibly making the deaths look like a murder-suicide or an accident, but never intended on going through with any of the plans.

"In my group of friends, it was just the way we talked," Richardson testified. "It was just stupid talk. Every time I said that, I never meant it. I was angry. I didn't mean it. Everybody else knew I didn't mean it."



Jeremy Steinke


Richardson said Steinke made similar remarks but that she never took him seriously.

"I thought he was just being morbid," she said.

When asked about her relationship with Steinke, Richardson said the two began dating shortly after he gave her a Valentine's Day poem.

"I was flattered," she said. "I liked him. He was really sweet and attentive. He told me he loved me all the time."

Richardson said they would talk on the phone for hours every day and related that the first time they had sexual intercourse was a week before the murders took place.

"I loved him so much. I thought it would bring us closer together. I thought it would make him happy. I knew he wanted to have sex with me."

Confronted with the evidence of the jailhouse letters and the marriage proposal, Richardson said, "At that point, I was pretty much telling him what I thought he wanted to hear."

Richardson was then asked why she wrote that they were "legends" and had become "immortal."

"I was told the media were going crazy over this," she said. "That's our five minutes of fame. Immortality means people will remember you."

[Cassie]

(Continued)

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In regard to the day the murders took place, Richardson said she was upstairs with her brother when Steinke attacked her parents. She said she tried to comfort the boy and covered his ears so he would not hear the screams.

"It was horrible, I didn't want him to hear it," she testified.

Richardson said she looked down the stairway and saw her mother lying on her back with "blood on her chest." She said she became scared and grabbed a kitchen knife in the bedroom to protect herself. Shortly thereafter, Steinke allegedly came into the room and told her to stab her eight-year-old brother.

"He yells at me, 'Stab him, just stab him! Slit his throat!' I said, 'I can't, I can't,' and he said, 'You have to. I did this for you.'"



Jasmine Richardson


Richardson testified that her brother pleaded for his life, saying, "I'm scared. I'm too young to die."

She admitted to stabbing him with the knife, but claimed she only made a halfhearted attempt.

"Not very hard," Richardson said describing how she stuck him with the knife. "It was somewhere in his upper body. It went to the side."

According to Richardson, Steinke then took the knife from her and cut the boy's throat while she turned away.

"He was gurgling," she testified.



Crime Scene


After her brother died, Richardson said Steinke left the house without her, leaving her behind with her dead family members.

[Cassie]

"He was gone. I was shocked, like, it was morbid, surreal. I was not in my head. I was panicking, and I was very scared," she said.

Richardson took money from her mother's purse and took a taxi to Steinke's house. The couple then went to a mutual friend's house and made love.



Jasmine Richardson


Testimony by Richardson soon came to an end, and the prosecution called various other witnesses who testified that Richardson and Steinke had admitted to committing the murders. According to one witness, Steinke said the family had been "gutted like fish," and Richardson described how her brother "gargled" after his throat was cut.

Closing arguments in the case were swift, with Cleary suggesting premeditation and Richardson's lawyer, Tim Foster, downplaying his client's involvement, painting her as more of a victim than a cold-blooded killer.

On July 10, after having deliberated for three hours, a jury of her peers found Jasmine Richardson guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. Afterwards, Cleary asked that the maximum 10-year sentence allowed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act be imposed.

"It is clear that this is a young person who is disturbed and faces big challenges to become part of society," Cleary said.

When Foster addressed the judge, he asked that his client receive a seven-year sentence with credit for the 18 months she had already spent in custody.

Judge Brooker said he would take both requests into consideration and deferred sentencing to November 2007. During the interim, a court-ordered psychological assessment of Richardson was conducted. That report, which was provided to the court in October, determined Richardson suffered from "conduct disorder" and "oppositional defiance disorder," but suggested she was still a good candidate for rehabilitation.

In discussing the results with The Calgary Herald, Cleary had this to say:

"This is a young person who is seriously disturbed," adding, "[She] bears no responsibility for her crimes."

[Cassie]

(Continued)

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On Nov. 8, Jasmine Richardson stood sobbing before Judge Brooker as he addressed her during her sentencing hearing.

"The circumstances surrounding these murders are horrific," Brooker said. "It is difficult to imagine a more horrific crime than this."

Brooker then sentenced Richardson to the maximum 10-year sentence.

"You can never undo what you did to your mom, dad and brother," Brooker said. "However, what you can do is honor their memory by dedicating your life to becoming the woman your parents and brother would be proud of."

Per the sentencing guidelines, Richardson will serve four years in a psychiatric hospital, at which time she will be released and placed under supervision for 4½ years.



Jeremy Steinke


Jeremy Steinke has yet to go to trial in this case. His lawyer has asked for a change of venue, citing pretrial publicity. A hearing regarding that issue will not be held until Feb. 2008. When he does go to trial, Steinke could be sentenced to life without parole for 25 years.

Kacy Lancaster faces accessory to murder charges. She remains free on a $25,000 bond. Her case is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 17, 2008.

Jasmine Richardson's sentence pales in comparison to the crimes she committed. In less than five years, a community somewhere in Canada will be forced to accept her and hope that she truly was a "good candidate" for rehabilitation. Only time will tell. In the meantime, Canadians should take a serious look at the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Perhaps it is time for reform.

[mike]

this is very involved im still reading this thanks lv mike

[Gabrielfashy]

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