- On 7/14/66, between 12:30 am and 3:30 am, he tortured, raped and murdered eight young nursing students after breaking into their dormitory at 2319 E.100th St. (Jeffrey Manor area), in Chicago, IL. His fingerprints were found at the scene--he had an extensive criminal record and it didn't take long to match the fingerprints to him. A resident of the flophouse in which Speck was staying recognized him from a sketch that had been released to the public by the police--a ninth young student staying at the dormitory survived by crawling under a bed and Speck didn't know she was there; she later gave his description to police--called authorities and Speck was soon arrested. He was tried on capital murder charges, convicted and sentenced to death. The sentence was later overturned and he was sentenced to 1,200 years in prison. He died in prison of a heart attack in 1991.
- His attorney tried to argue that Speck wasn't responsible for his crimes because he suffered from "XYY syndrome" (presence of an extra Y chromosome in men), which makes men more aggressive and violent. However, it was later proven that he had normal chromosomes even if the XYY theory was believed.
- His picture is featured in Freeway (1996). The photograph of him represents the father of Reese Witherspoon's character, Vanessa Lutz.
- Had a tattoo saying "Born To Raise Hell".
- Several films were based on his crimes--but they're not biographical movies--including Violated Angels (1967), Born for Hell (1976) and 10 to Midnight (1983).
- Subject of the song "Richard Speck" by Wesley Willis.
- Subject of the song "What the Heck, Richard Speck?" by Macabre.
- In 1952 his oldest brother Robert died at age 23 in an automobile accident.
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