Richard John Vieira
Facts of the Crime:
Sentenced to death in Stanislaus County on March 30, 1992 for four murders committed in the small town of Salida. On May 20, 1990, Vieira was living at a place called “The Camp,” which was a small complex of houses and trailers. Vieira lived in a trailer with David Beck. Jason LaMarsh lived in another trailer behind Vieira’s. Both trailers were behind Gerald Cruz’s house. Cruz was the leader of this group. Tensions developed in The Camp because Franklin Raper, a man in his 50s who lived there, sold drugs from his trailer. Raper also got into a dispute with a neighbor over an electricity bill. Cruz liked the neighbor and was angry at Raper. Tensions increased when Raper got into a fight with LaMarsh over charges that Raper had stolen one of LaMarsh’s guns. Raper moved away from the camp and into a house in Salida. Cruz met with Vieira, LaMarsh, Beck, Ron Willey, and Michelle Evans. Cruz made a plan for the group to go to Raper’s house and “do them all and leave no witnesses.” Cruz also threatened those who did not do their job would join the victims.
The group went to Raper’s house armed with baseball bats, a police-style baton, and knives. Except for Cruz, the men were dressed in camouflage and masks. Evans and LaMarsh entered the house and led whoever was inside to the living room. Evans let Vieira and Beck into the house through a window and returned to the car. Cruz and Willey approached the house, and people inside started screaming and running. Four people were killed that night. Richard Ritchey ran from the house and was beaten by Cruz and Willey with a police-style baton until Cruz cut his throat with a knife. Roger Colwell’s throat was slit inside the house. Emmie Paris died when Vieira slit her throat after beating her with a baseball bat. Raper died of skull fractures after being beaten. One woman escaped, and a neighbor saw Ritchey’s death at the hands of Cruz.
Beck and Cruz were also sentenced to death.
For more on Beck, see: http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/...rnia-Death-Row
For more on Cruz, see: http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/...ht=gerald+cruz
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