Richard Biegenwald

Richard Fran Biegenwald (August 24, 1940 – March 10, 2008) was an American serial killer and arsonist who murdered six people, four women and two men, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, between 1958 and 1983. He is suspected in at least two other murders.

Early life Born in Staten Island, New York, Biegenwald was frequently beaten as a child by his alcoholic father. At the age of five, Biegenwald set fire to their home and was sent for observation at a Rockland County Psychiatric Center.

By the age of eight, Biegenwald was drinking and gambling. At age nine he underwent electroshock therapy at New York's Bellevue Hospital. Biegenwald fled the state after the murder, but was captured two days later in Salisbury, Maryland, after a shooting involving police. Biegenwald was released from prison on parole in 1975 after 17 years imprisonment.

Capture Police surrounded Biegenwald's home on January 22, 1983, where Dherran Fitzgerald also lived. Maria Ciallella—Shot and dismembered on November 1, 1981. She was buried at Biegenwald's mother's house. Virginia Clayton—Abducted and murdered September 8, 1982, body found 3 days later 4 miles from location of where John Petrone's body was discovered. Deborah Osbourne—Stabbed to death on April 8, 1982. She was buried on top of Ciallella's body at Biegenwald's mother's house. Anna Olesiewicz—Shot four times in the head on August 28, 1982, after being lured away from the Asbury Park boardwalk. Her body was left behind a Burger King in Ocean Township, NJ. William Ward—Drug dealer and prison escapee shot 3 or 4 times in the head and killed by Biegenwald at his home in Asbury Park in September 1982. Betsy Bacon—Disappeared November 20, 1982.

Of these murders, Biegenwald was convicted of murdering Sladowski, Ciallella, Osbourne, Olesiewicz, Ward & Bacon, three of whom he pleaded guilty to.