Who Is Richard Speck? Age, Biography and Wiki
Richard Speck was born on December 6, 1941, in Dallas, Texas. He became notorious for the brutal murder of eight student nurses in Chicago in 1966. Despite his violent past and subsequent incarceration, Speck's life continues to be a subject of debate and discussion. By 2025, he would have been 83 years old had he lived beyond his death in 1991.
| Occupation | Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 6, 1941 |
| Age | 49 Years |
| Birth Place | Kirkwood, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 5 December, 1991 |
| Died Place | Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
Popularity
Richard Speck's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Although Richard Speck is remembered primarily for his heinous crimes rather than his physical appearance, historical records indicate that he stood at approximately 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall and weighed around 210 pounds (95 kg). His physical stature contributed to his ominous persona during the time of his crimes.
In December 1965 and March 1966, Nature and The Lancet published findings by British cytogeneticist Patricia Jacobs and colleagues of a chromosome survey of patients at Scotland's only security hospital for the developmentally disabled.
Nine of the patients, ranging from 5ft 7in to 6ft 2in height, were found to have an extra Y chromosome, the XYY syndrome. Jacobs hypothesized that men with XYY syndrome are more prone to aggressive and violent behavior than males with the normal XY karyotype, but the idea was later shown to be incorrect.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Richard Speck came from a troubled family background, which influenced his later actions. Throughout his life, he had several relationships, including a marriage to Carolyn E. (Kennedy) Speck in 1960, with whom he had two daughters. However, details about his romantic involvements later in life are limited, as discussions about his relationships often focus on his criminal record rather than personal life. Following his imprisonment, he showed little interest in romantic partnerships, focusing instead on his infamous reputation.
The family moved to Monmouth, Illinois, shortly after Speck's birth. He and his sister Carolyn (b. 1943) were much younger than their four older sisters and two older brothers. His mother was religious and a teetotaler. His father worked as a packer at Western Stoneware in Monmouth having previously worked as a farmer and logger.
Net Worth and Salary
Richard Speck's financial situation during his life, especially post-incarceration, is not comprehensively documented. There is no substantial evidence to suggest that he accumulated wealth during his life, and his earnings were minimal due to his criminal background. As is typical for individuals with such a history, he was likely reliant on state provisions while incarcerated and had no significant net worth.
Career, Business and Investments
Prior to his criminal activities, Speck held various jobs, primarily in manual labor, but there were no record of him engaging in any long-term career or investments that shaped his financial background. His life trajectory took a fatal turn in 1966, marking the end of any professional aspirations he may have had. Instead of a career in business or investments, he became infamously known as one of America's most notorious murderers.
In July 1963, at the age of 21, Speck was sentenced to serve three years in prison after being convicted of forgery and burglary. Speck had forged and cashed a co-worker's $44 paycheck and also robbed a grocery store for cigarettes, beer, and $3 in cash.
He was paroled in 1965 after serving 16 months at Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. His release lasted a week. Speck was arrested again on January 9, 1965. Speck attacked a woman in the parking lot of her apartment building, wielding a 17 in carving knife, but fled when the woman screamed.
The police arrived within minutes and apprehended Speck a few blocks away. Speck was convicted of aggravated assault, given a 16-month sentence to run concurrently with a parole violation sentence, and returned to prison in Huntsville.
However, due to an error, he was released just six months later upon the completion of his parole violation sentence on July 2, 1965. After his release, Speck worked for three months as a driver for the Patterson Meat Company. Although he had six accidents in the company's truck, he was only fired for failing to show up for work.
Social Network
During his life, Richard Speck had no recognizable social media presence, as the platforms we know today did not exist during his time. However, his story has generated a significant amount of media coverage over the years, and discussions about his case have found digital life in various true crime forums and documentaries. Speck's legacy continues to be examined and analyzed in articles and books detailing criminal psychology and the American justice system.
On June 30, Speck's brother-in-law Gene drove him to the National Maritime Union (NMU) hiring hall at 2335 E. 100th St. in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood of South Deering, Chicago to file his paperwork for a seaman's card.
The NMU hiring hall was one block east of five attached two-story brick townhouses, three of which were occupied by South Chicago Community Hospital senior student nurses and Filipino exchange registered nurses. Eight of these nurses lived in the easternmost townhouse at 2319 E. 100th St., just 150 ft from the NMU hiring hall.
Education
Richard Speck attended local public schools in Texas but struggled academically and behaviorally throughout his young life. He dropped out of high school and did not pursue any higher education or vocational training. His educational background is often overshadowed by the gravity of his crimes, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health and behavioral issues for at-risk youth.
Richard Benjamin Speck (December 6, 1941 – December 5, 1991) was an American mass murderer who killed eight student nurses in their South Deering, Chicago, residence via stabbing, strangling, slashing their throats, or a combination of the three on the night of July 13–14, 1966. Speck also raped one victim before killing her.
A ninth potential victim, student nurse Corazon Amurao, survived by hiding beneath a bed.
