Richard Delmer Boyer
Richard Delmer Boyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 (age 65–66) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Handyman |
| Criminal charge | Capital murder |
| Penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Date | December 7, 1982 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | California |
| Location(s) | Fullerton |
| Killed | 2 |
| Weapons | Knife |
Richard Delmer Boyer is an American man convicted of murdering an elderly couple.
Background
Boyer, from La Mirada, California, was working as a handyman at the time of the crime.[1]
Crime and arrest
On December 7, 1982 Boyer stabbed to death an elderly couple in Fullerton, California; he stabbed the husband 24 times and the wife 19 times.[2] He was arrested following a tip-off from the victim's son.[2] Boyer was not given access to a lawyer during his arrest.[3] He was about to be released by the police when he admitted the crime.[3]
Trial
During the trial Boyer was revealed to be a drug addict, and he had consumed both alcohol and drugs on the day of the murder.[3] He stated that he had driven to the victim's house to borrow money.[3] At the property he stated he started "freaking out" and could not remember committing the crime.[3] The first trial ended in a hung jury.[3] In the second trial, in 1984, a defense psychopharmacologist testified that Boyer had suffered a drug-induced flashback to a horror film, Halloween II, which features a scene with an elderly couple.[3][4] The film was shown to the jury, the first time in US legal history that a commercial motion picture had been submitted as evidence at a murder trial.[5] The jury found him guilty, and the judge sentenced Boyer to death.[5][6]
The California Supreme Court ordered a re-trial in 1989, stating that Boyer had been denied his Miranda rights.[5][7][8]
In 1991 he was linked to another murder, committed in 1980, but the District Attorney stated they would not pursue in case it distracted from the forthcoming re-trial.[9]
In 1992 Boyer was re-tried, and was again found guilty and sentenced to death.[5][10][11][12][13]
Bibliography
- David J. Skal (2003). Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. Bloomsbury. ISBN 1-58234-305-5.
References
- ^ Skal, p. 168-169
- ^ a b Skal, p. 168
- ^ a b c d e f g Skal, p. 169
- ^ Thomas M. Sipos. "The Devil Made Me Do It". Salvo Magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Skal, p. 170
- ^ "Jury urges death for elderly couple's killer". Lakeland Ledger. September 13, 1984. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Philip Hager (March 14, 1989). "High Court Upsets Murder Conviction, Citing Police for 'Blunder' With Suspect". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ David G. Savage (November 28, 1989). "High Court Orders Retrial in Couple's Murders". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Jerry Hicks (February 11, 1991). "Man's Killing Surfaces Again Decade Later". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Mark I. Pinsky (June 23, 1992). "Man on Trial a Third Time for Murders". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Mark I. Pinsky (June 25, 1992). "Man Guilty of Murdering Fullerton Couple". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Mark I. Pinsky (August 4, 1992). "Death Penalty Recommended for Fullerton Couple's Killer". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Rene Lynch (October 24, 1992). "Man Who Killed Fullerton Couple Sentenced to Die". LA Times. Retrieved July 20, 2014.