GUILTY Canada - Melissa Richmond, 28, stabbed to death, Winchester, Ont, 24 July 2013

[Kbeb]

I'm pretty sure that half of her clothes were removed, she was beaten, stabbed and then left in a drainage ditch to die. I don't believe for a moment that any of her injuries occurred after she had died. Either he was jealous, or he blamed her for his financial situation. Perhaps she was thinking about leaving him.

Which ever way it was done, it was a conscious and deliberate effort to try and pass the blame on to someone else. (That is of course, if he is guilty, and I'm pretty sure he is )

 

[otto]

I just listened to the husband's statement to the media, which is summarized in the linked article. I find this statement interesting:

"Since that day, Howard Richmond admitted going through a series of emotions while trying to cope with the death of his wife. He described it as a "mixture of incredible pain" and then "anger."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...nsify-search-for-richmond-murder-suspect.html

I think that after people have done something they shouldn't have done, what they say later provides a glimpse into the thinking that occurred during the act. He says that he felt "incredible pain" and then "anger". I suspect that this is what he felt at the time of the murder.

 

[LurkingSpectator]

"Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can come and go. You may have more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms when things are stressful in general, or when you run into reminders of what you went through. You may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences, for instance. Or you may see a report on the news about a rape and feel overcome by memories of your own assault."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/DS00246/DSECTION=symptoms

What sort of trigger, similar to the PTSD trigger experienced by the husband while he was deployed in a war zone, could have happened on the night that Melissa was murdered?

That is exactly how I understood PTSD too Otto. I always thought that was exactly what happened when people who suffered from PTSD had an issue. Only things that recreated the original incident caused an episode. However, years of living with it, talking to counselors, support groups, etc. has shown that in reality, that is only one aspect of it, and it depends on the severity. That the thing that effects the regular living is not the 'recreation' of the event, but rather the fear that accompanies it, and the inability to communicate, process and work through emotions, which results frustration, meltdowns and anger. To be honest, I don't know if it is different for people who experience 'civilian' PTSD as compared to combat PTSD either, as my experience has only been with individuals who have been in combat and now have PTSD.

 

[otto]

That is exactly how I understood PTSD too Otto. I always thought that was exactly what happened when people who suffered from PTSD had an issue. Only things that recreated the original incident caused an episode. However, years of living with it, talking to counselors, support groups, etc. has shown that in reality, that is only one aspect of it, and it depends on the severity. That the thing that effects the regular living is not the 'recreation' of the event, but rather the fear that accompanies it, and the inability to communicate, process and work through emotions, which results frustration, meltdowns and anger. To be honest, I don't know if it is different for people who experience 'civilian' PTSD as compared to combat PTSD either, as my experience has only been with individuals who have been in combat and now have PTSD.

I would ask, in your experience with combat related PTSD, what sort of war zone event that caused PTSD could have happened (and triggered PTSD symptoms) shortly before Melissa was murdered by her husband?

 

[LurkingSpectator]

I would ask, in your experience with combat related PTSD, what sort of war zone event that caused PTSD could have happened (and triggered PTSD symptoms) shortly before Melissa was murdered by her husband?

See, now that's the hinky part of PTSD. I know people who have had a specific traumatic, identified event, such as being blown up, shot, or lost someone close because they were blown up, shot, etc while beside them. That seems to be the majority. But I've also talked to, and been told by Military medical personnel that it is also possible that it isn't one specific event that causes it, but rather an accumulative series of events where a person is living in a heightened sense of fear for their lives, such as constant shelling, or continual possibility of sniper attacks, etc. In any case, the big things seems to be, that when doctors refer to the 'break' being caused by a similar triggering effect, they are talking about a severe, episodic event that occurs rarely. What most people don't realize, is that 'breaks', where the person is reliving the original event or situation, happen now and then, yes. But the real problem with PTSD isn't the 'episodic break' but the 'emotional break' that occurs with having PTSD. This can be caused by absolutely anything, and results not in a 'reliving' of the episode, but rather a complete loss of emotional control, resulting in rages, hysterical crying, breakdowns etc.

This can be caused by just about anything, I've seen it repeatedly with quite a few people over the past 5 years. It breaks my heart watching a grown man cry because he can't figure out how much change to give the lady behind the counter, because he's too busy telling himself not to panic, and he's safe, not in any danger, and the guy standing behind him in line with the headscarf on is not the guy who tried to shoot him, etc., to be able to think about what coins he needs to make 37 cents!

You will note, that in your quote from the Mayo clinic, it states that the PTSD can be present when things are stressful, OR when something similar to the original event occurs. I think that emphasis is placed in the wrong order, since most PTSD sufferers are in that state due to what they perceive as 'stressful' more often than when they have a similar event. Severe PTSD itself causes the person to perceive just about everything as stressful, even going to the store.

 

[rogue ant]

It'd be interesting to know if HR's PTSD caused him to get in trouble with the law -- apart from the present circumstances.

 

[otto]

I don't think that spousal homicide is a symptom of PTSD, especially if the murder occurred in Ottawa and the last interaction with the spouse occurred almost an hour earlier in Winchester.

 

[LurkingSpectator]

I don't think that spousal homicide is a symptom of PTSD, especially if the murder occurred in Ottawa and the last interaction with the spouse occurred almost an hour earlier in Winchester.

I do not think homicide of any kind, or physical assault or abuse of any kind is a symptom of PTSD either! Just like I don't believe that a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol who commits a similar crime is committing it as a symptom of their addiction.

However, the behaviour, rationale or ability to commit the act may be due to an effect or symptom of the disability, making the individual more likely to do something they would not have done if they did not suffer from that disability.

It doesn't excuse it, allow it, or make it any more acceptable, it merely makes the unexplained a bit more explainable.

As to the delay in interaction time, I'm not so sure about that, as far as I know, the only thing proving H&M actually did make it home to Winchester that night was Howard saying they did. For all we know, they left the gas station and went to the shopping mall.

 

[Kbeb]

As to the delay in interaction time, I'm not so sure about that, as far as I know, the only thing proving H&M actually did make it home to Winchester that night was Howard saying they did. For all we know, they left the gas station and went to the shopping mall.

Did the media ever say which gas station it was? Was it in Winchester? There's 2 there. (I'm from the area)

It's hard to picture them trailing one behind the other from Winchester to Ottawa, unless he 'followed' in a sneaky manner.
They'd have to make it home in order for Melissa to 'accidently' leave her phone at the house.

 

[Lise-Anne]

Did the media ever say which gas station it was? Was it in Winchester? There's 2 there. (I'm from the area)

It's hard to picture them trailing one behind the other from Winchester to Ottawa, unless he 'followed' in a sneaky manner.
They'd have to make it home in order for Melissa to 'accidently' leave her phone at the house.

Good point. That's what HR had claimed in his interview with the CBC.

 

[Wendy101]

Did the media ever say which gas station it was? Was it in Winchester? There's 2 there. (I'm from the area)

It's hard to picture them trailing one behind the other from Winchester to Ottawa, unless he 'followed' in a sneaky manner.
They'd have to make it home in order for Melissa to 'accidently' leave her phone at the house.[/QUOTE]

BBM: He could have killed her and then took her phone home with him so it wouldn't ping in the car..

 

[Lise-Anne]

"CFN – As trickles of information about Howard Richmond; arrested for the homicide of his wife Melissa, start to become known it turns out that Mr. Richmond appears to be a Past Master of A Masonic Lodge, his local Henderson Hall Masonic Lodge in Winchester."

http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/08...ster-mason-six-tour-armed-forces-vet-updated/

 

[otto]

I do not think homicide of any kind, or physical assault or abuse of any kind is a symptom of PTSD either! Just like I don't believe that a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol who commits a similar crime is committing it as a symptom of their addiction.

However, the behaviour, rationale or ability to commit the act may be due to an effect or symptom of the disability, making the individual more likely to do something they would not have done if they did not suffer from that disability.

It doesn't excuse it, allow it, or make it any more acceptable, it merely makes the unexplained a bit more explainable.

As to the delay in interaction time, I'm not so sure about that, as far as I know, the only thing proving H&M actually did make it home to Winchester that night was Howard saying they did. For all we know, they left the gas station and went to the shopping mall.

The husband has a disorder that is related to one of his six military tours. Presumably, it's the last one, since it's unlikely that he would be deployed if he had PTSD. Something happened in Afghanistan. That's all we know. Now he's employed as a warrant officer with the military and we know that he was looking forward to retirement from the military.

I doubt that they drove 32 miles to Ottawa in separate cars to go shopping, but it's possible that the husband was following/stalking his wife. It seems to me that he either murdered her at home and then ran the 32 miles home, or he followed her there, attacked her and drove himself home.

 

[otto]

"CFN – As trickles of information about Howard Richmond; arrested for the homicide of his wife Melissa, start to become known it turns out that Mr. Richmond appears to be a Past Master of A Masonic Lodge, his local Henderson Hall Masonic Lodge in Winchester."

http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/08...ster-mason-six-tour-armed-forces-vet-updated/

A master at a Masonic Lodge ... doesn't strike me as an introverted person.

 

[LurkingSpectator]

A master at a Masonic Lodge ... doesn't strike me as an introverted person.

No one ever said HR was an introvert. As I pointed out before, he was introspective, that means he spent a lot of time looking inward at his own self, and expressing it in a contemplative manner, such as through prose, song or story.

I also don't see them travelling all the way home in two separate cars, and then all the way back to Ottawa, again in two separate cars. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say it was more likely, depending on where the gas station was, that they either planned to go from the gas station to the mall, maybe to have coffee and dessert at the Denny's, or they were heading home, stopped at the gas station, got into a fight, and MR decided to drive back into Ottawa to have some time to herself, and HR followed her. Unless LE found something we don't know about, which is highly probable, there is actually no proof that she ever made it back to the house in Winchester that night.

 

[otto]

No one ever said HR was an introvert. As I pointed out before, he was introspective, that means he spent a lot of time looking inward at his own self, and expressing it in a contemplative manner, such as through prose, song or story.

I also don't see them travelling all the way home in two separate cars, and then all the way back to Ottawa, again in two separate cars. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say it was more likely, depending on where the gas station was, that they either planned to go from the gas station to the mall, maybe to have coffee and dessert at the Denny's, or they were heading home, stopped at the gas station, got into a fight, and MR decided to drive back into Ottawa to have some time to herself, and HR followed her. Unless LE found something we don't know about, which is highly probable, there is actually no proof that she ever made it back to the house in Winchester that night.

Where did she, her husband, and friends spend the day?

 

[LurkingSpectator]

Where did she, her husband, and friends spend the day?

I do not believe that was ever stated. My assumption would be that MR was at work, and HR was at home. Most SCA activities during the week are week nights, any where from 6 to 9 or 10, or 7 to 9 or 10. This is why I think they met at the activity, in separate cars. But this is just assumption based on the fact that someone said they were with friends from the SCA that night.

It is more than possible it wasn't an SCA activity at all, but just a bunch of them getting together for the evening.

 

[otto]

I do not believe that was ever stated. My assumption would be that MR was at work, and HR was at home. Most SCA activities during the week are week nights, any where from 6 to 9 or 10, or 7 to 9 or 10. This is why I think they met at the activity, in separate cars. But this is just assumption based on the fact that someone said they were with friends from the SCA that night.

It is more than possible it wasn't an SCA activity at all, but just a bunch of them getting together for the evening.

If we don't know where they spent the day, we can't really assume that first, they drove there in separate cars and second, that Denny's is on the route between where they met with friends and home, still in separate cars. Did Melissa work as a hygenist in Ottawa or in Wincher or Chesterville?

I think that they attended the event with friends in one vehicle and then, in the evening, they got gas. We don't know where or when that was, other than "last seen getting gas in two separate vehicles."

Strange situation. It makes more sense to me that they went home in one vehicle after meeting with friends. I see three possibilities.

1. Either Melissa left home at some point, got gas (and her husband just happened to be getting gas at the same time), and she kept driving. She left her cell phone behind, and she ended up in Ottawa - perhaps looking for a public place that was open later at night. I think I read upthread that Dennys is 24 hour place. Hopefully people that were at the restaurant between 11 PM and 7 AM have come forward.
   
2. Or Melissa was murdered at home and her husband disposed of her vehicle and her body in the city to throw police off the "rural" scent. Then he ran 32 miles home ... would have taken about 5 hours. If he ran home, shouldn't someone have seen him?
   
3. And the one you mention ... they met with friends in two separate vehicles, they got gas, they drove to Dennys, they argued before going into the restaurant, he murdered her in the ditch and then he drove home. That would mean that she did not have her cell phone when she was at work ... or she had her cell phone and he calculatingly took it home after the murder.

 

[Lise-Anne]

Howard Richmond - Lord Dragul Maksimov Vodnikov (Lord Vod)-Canton of Harrowgate Heath-Society for Creative Anachronism

http://www.harrowgateheath.com/members/vodnikov/vodnikov_persona.htm


Melissa Richmond - Lady Aevianna Nordenge-Canton of Harrowgate Heath-SCA

http://www.harrowgateheath.com/members/aevianna/aevianna_persona.shtml

 

[otto]

Howard Richmond - Lord Dragul Maksimov Vodnikov (Lord Vod)-Canton of Harrowgate Heath-Society for Creative Anachronism

http://www.harrowgateheath.com/members/vodnikov/vodnikov_persona.htm


Melissa Richmond - Lady Aevianna Nordenge-Canton of Harrowgate Heath-SCA

http://www.harrowgateheath.com/members/aevianna/aevianna_persona.shtml

Thanks. So they were Lord and Lady Canton of Harrowgate Heath. She was Lady Aevianna Nordenge. He was Lord Dragul Maksimov Vodnikov - also known as Lord Vod.

That doesn't sound introverted to me either. His roles of Master in the Masonic Lodge and Lord in the Medieval Game seem like he aimed for leadership. Dwelling on poetry and feelings, for a soldier, sounds a bit weird. Keeping his feelings in check seems par for a soldier.

Yet, this soldier reportedly liked poetry. It reminds me of the story of Ferdinand the Bull, except in this case the husband has been in the military for 24 years, so clearly he is cut out for it - unlike Ferdinand.