On April 23, 2006, a quiet Canadian community was shattered by a gruesome discovery. The lifeless bodies of Marc and Debra Richardson, along with their 8-year-old son Tyler Jacob, were found in the basement of their home. The couple's 12-year-old daughter, Jasmine, was missing from the scene, sparking fears that she had been abducted by the killer.
However, the truth behind the Richardson family murders would soon emerge. The day after the bodies were discovered, Jasmine was picked up in Leader, Saskatchewan, over 130 kilometers away, accompanied by her 23-year-old “boyfriend,” Jeremy Allan Steinke. Both were charged with the brutal murders of Marc, Debra, and Tyler Jacob.
The motive behind the murders sent shockwaves through the community. Friends of Jasmine revealed that her parents had vehemently opposed her relationship with Steinke due to the fact he was an adult and she was a child; he had evidently been grooming her.
According to friends of Steinke, he claimed to be a 300-year-old werewolf and an affinity for the taste of blood. Reports emerged of Steinke's fascination with violent media, including the film "Natural Born Killers," which he allegedly watched with friends just hours before the murders. In a chilling echo of the movie's plot, Steinke reportedly expressed a desire to emulate the protagonists' violent spree, sparing no one, not even Jasmine's young brother.
Further investigation into the couple's online activities revealed a disturbing trail of communication on websites frequented by young Canadians, including VampireFreaks.com and Nexopia. Richardson posted under the username "runawaydevil” while Steinke's accounts painted a picture of a troubled individual fascinated by dark and macabre themes.
The couple ultimately stood trial, and during Richardson’s trial, it was revealed that Steinke had broken into the family’s home armed with a knife. Debra had come down the stairs after hearing a noise, and Steinke stabbed her to death. After hearing the noise, Marc came to investigate and he was overpowered during a struggle and stabbed to death.
As for Tyler Jacob, Richardson admitted to stabbing him. She said that after stabbing him once and handing the knife to Steinke, her little bother cried: “I’m too young to die.” Steinke then slashed his throat. Richardson also claimed that she was in a “zombie late” state when Steinke carried out the murders.
Both Richardson and Steinke were convicted of the murders. Because of her young age, Richardson was sentenced to the maximum that was allowed for somebody her age – ten years. She was released in May of 2016. As for Steinke, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
