In April 2006, 12-year-old Jasmine Richardson became the youngest person ever charged with multiple counts of murder in Canada, for her part in the cold-blooded murder of her parents and little brother. The crime sent shock waves throughout the country and made headlines around the world. Both Richardson and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jeremy Steinke, were active on the Internet. In the aftermath of their arrests, investigators uncovered several accounts that begged closer investigation.
On April 23, 2006, a 6-year-old boy in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, told his parents he saw a body lying on the floor of their neighbor’s house. Concerned, the young boy’s parents notified police and a unit was quickly dispatched to 304 Cameron Road.
When officers entered the two-story home, they discovered the bodies of Marc Richardson, 42, and his wife Debra, 48, sprawled out on the home’s first floor. In an upstairs bedroom they discovered the lifeless body of the Richardson’s son, 8-year-old Jacob, lying on a bed.
The key question among investigators was, who? And why?
After questioning neighbors, detectives realized the Richardson’s daughter, 12-year-old Jasmine Richardson, was missing, and possibly the victim of a kidnapping. However, as the investigation progressed, evidence quickly pointed to her involvement in the murders.
On April 24, 2006, police located Richardson and Steinke, 100 miles away in the town of Leader. Both suspects were arrested at the scene and later charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Police alleged that Richardson and Steinke’s secret relationship was the motive behind the murders. Marc and Debra had recently forbid the two from having contact with each other, a move that had angered both young lovers.
As the investigation continued, detectives soon learned that Richardson had Internet profiles on MySpace, VampireFreaks.com and Zorpia.com.
Richardson’s MySpace profile contained little information, other than her personal "heroes," including notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and death metal musician Marilyn Manson.
A profile Richardson maintained at Zorpia.com listed her last login as Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006. Richardson had uploaded three photos to the Web site that were somewhat deceptive, because her clothing and makeup made her look well beyond her 12 years.
Richardson also had a profile at VampireFreaks.com, an "industrial music and gothic culture" Web site, where users can post information and photos and communicate with others. In her profile, Richardson described herself as "bisexual, Wiccan, nocturnal, awkward, loud, a deep thinker and insane." She listed her interests as "unnatural hair colors, dark poetry, criminal psychology, blood, human anatomy and kinky s--t."
More telling were the profiles maintained by Steinke.
In a profile at Bolt.com, he described himself as a "gothic individual" who believed in "Blood, Destruction, Guts, Gore & Greed." He wrote: "Am I God's champion or Satan's angel? Roses are red, Roses have thorns, Hell hath no fury, like a little girl scorned! Here's a quote that I think has alot [sic] to say, ‘Never regret something that once made you happy!’"
Like Richardson, Steinke also had a profile at VampireFreaks.com. He listed his interests as "freestyle BMX, skateboarding, snowboarding, gothic beings, my '81 Firebird, mosh pits, loud Music, peircings [sic], tattoos, scarification, pain, kinky fetishes, heavy metal, blood, razorblades, the dark, the moon, Mindfreaks Criss Angel, The Stars, eyeliner, gothic individuals, poetry, dark clothing, aggressiveness, biting, nails, Lycan's & My Girlfriend!"
Of his three online profiles, the most interesting proved to be one he kept at Windows Live Spaces. In an April 3, 2006, posting he allegedly wrote:
"Payment! My Lover's rents are totally unfair; they say that they really care; they don't know what is going on the [sic] 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 bullshit. Their throats I want to slit. They will regret the shit they have done. Especially when I see to it that they are gone. They shall pay for their insulince [sic]. Finally there shall be silence. Their blood shall be payment!"
Unfortunately, less than four weeks later, those promises became a reality.
