Murderous Children: 12 Year Old Jasmine Richardson & Her Boyfriend Murdered Her Parents & 8 Year Old Brother
9312 Year Old Jasmine Richardson
Her little brother pleaded for his life, "I'm scared. I'm too young to die", before his sister stabbed him in the chest, and her boyfriend cut his throat.
When children murder, it's shocking. Even more shocking and unimaginable is when children murder their own parents. The youngest person ever charged with multiple counts of murder in Canada, then 12 year old Jasmine Richardson, and her then 23 year old boyfriend, Jeremy Steinke murdered not only her parents, Marc and Debra, but also her 8 year old brother Jacob in cold blood.
On April 23rd, 2006, the bodies of Marc and Debra Richardson, and their 8 year old son Jacob, were discovered in their home, by a 6 year old boy who saw their bodies lying on the floor through a window. Marc and Debra's lifeless bodies were discovered lying on the ground on the first floor, while little Jacob was found upstairs, lying on a bed. The police discovered that the couple's 12 year old daughter, Jasmine Richardson, was missing from the home, and they feared that she had possibly been abducted. However, evidence started piling up quickly that ruled kidnapping out, and pointed to her involvement in the murders.
The next day on April 24th, 2006, Jasmine and her boyfriend Jeremy were located 100 miles away, and both were arrested and charged with 3 counts of first degree murder.
Jasmine Before Jeremy...
Jeremy Allan Steinke
What Happened & Why? "I loved him so much, I thought it would bring us closer together".
23 year old Jeremy Steinke, who was part of the goth crowd, and also proclaimed he was a 300 year old werewolf, purportedly met 12 year old Jasmine Richardson at a punk rock concert in 2006. Jasmine immediately became enamored with him, and with the goth lifestyle. They were in love; behind bars awaiting trial, Jeremy even proposed to Jasmine through jailhouse letters they exchanged. She accepted.
When Jasmine's family found out about her 23 year old werewolf boyfriend, they became furious, grounding her, and forbidding her from seeing him. For Jasmine, and Jeremy, this was reason enough for them to die.
Though Jasmine had discussed with her friends, on more than one occasion, that she was planning on killing her parents, none of them ever took her seriously. During the trial, she would claim that she never meant it; it was just "stupid talk". Unfortunately for her parents, and her younger brother, it became a reality.
While searching for evidence, and looking for a motive for the gruesome murders, the police came across multiple online accounts that belonged to both Jasmine and Jeremy. It would be easy to assume that Jeremy, being the older one in the relationship, was the one who came up with the plan, but their online accounts told a different tale. Amongst the most telling were two messages; the first message, sent from Jasmine to Jeremy read "I have this plan. It begins with me killing them and ends with me living with you." The other message was posted on a Windows Live Spaces account belonging to Jeremy, where he had written;
"Payment! My Lover's rents are totally unfair; they say that they really care; they don't know what is going on the [sic] just assume. As their greed continues to consume, she is slowly going insane. She continues to thank that I came, into her life to help her out, and to stop what they keep trying to shout. It's all total bullshit. Their throats I want to slit. They will regret the shit they have done. Especially when I see to it that they are gone. They shall pay for their insulince [sic]. Finally there shall be silence. Their blood shall be payment!"
Less than a month later, Jasmine's parents paid with their blood, just as Jeremy had written. On that fateful night, Steinke first attacked Jasmine's mother & father downstairs, stabbing them both to death. He then went upstairs, where Jasmine proceeded to stab her 8 year old brother Jacob in the chest, while he pled for his life. Jeremy then finished him off by slitting his throat. Jasmine testified in court that he was gurgling. She stated that the reason for their decision to kill her brother was that she thought it was cruel to leave him to live without his parents. Two hours after the death of her parents and brother, Jasmine and Jeremy were laughing and kissing at a nearby restaurant.
At trial, when she was asked why they murdered her parents and little brother, Jasmine said "I loved him so much. I thought it would bring us closer together".
Murderess Jasmine Richardson
4 Years Later: Discussing Jasmine's Re-integration into Society; She Still Doesn't Understand the Severity of her Crimes...
Trial, Verdict & Sentencing
Jasmine Richardson went on trial in June of 2007. She was 14 years old at the time. She pled not guilty to 3 counts of first degree murder. The trial lasted approximately a month, and in July of 2007, after 3 hours of deliberation, the jury brought back the verdict: Guilty on all 3 counts.
In November of 2007, Jasmine was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, which is the maximum sentenced allowed by the Youth Criminal Justice act. The act states that any convicts who were under the age of 14 at the time they committed the act cannot be charged as adults, and can be given a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Jasmine's sentence included credit for 18 months for time served, with 4 years to be spent in a psychiatric facility, followed by 4 and 1/2 years where she will be under conditional supervision in the community. As of the writing of this article in November, 2010, Jasmine has one year left to complete of the 4 years required by her sentence in a psychiatric facility, and will then be serving her time under conditional supervision in the community. In 2015, she will have completed her sentence, and be released at the age of 23.
In December of 2008, Jasmine Richardson's boyfriend and accomplice in the murder of her parents and her brother, Jeremy Steinke, was found guilty of 3 counts of first degree murder, and sentenced to 3 concurrent life sentences in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.
UPDATE: 2012 - JASMINE HAS BEEN RELEASED!
Jasmine Richardson, as per the guidelines of her sentencing, has now been released and is serving time under conditional supervision in the community. Canada's youngest convicted multiple-murderer has, as of September 2011, became a freshman at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Now 18 years old, it has been 6 years since Jasmine and her boyfriend murdered her parents and her little brother.
Want To Know More About Jasmine & the Richardson Family Murders? or Other Children Who Kill?
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Other articles in my "Murderous Children" series;
12 Year Old Cristian Fernandez Killed His 2 Year Old Brother & Sexually Abused Another Sibling
16 Year Old Rachel Pittman Stabbed a Mother & Her Two Children to Death
10 Year Old Joseph McVay Shot & Killed His Mother After An Argument Over Chores
11 Year Old Serial Killer, Mary Bell
14 Year Old Josh Phillips Murdered His 8 Year Old Neighbour and Hid Her Under His Bed For a Week
14 Year Old Lionel Tate Killed a 6 Year Old Girl
15 Year Old Alyssa Bustamante Viciously Murdered a 9 Year Old Girl
Articles in my "Parents Who Kill" series;
Elaine Campione Drowned Her Daughters
Alexandra Tobias Killed Her Infant Son When He Interrupted Her Facebook Time
"Unsolved Murders: series;
33 Year Old Alexandra Flanagan's Dismember Remains Found in Two Areas
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@American Romance;
While I mostly agree with you, I don't think that you can say with certainty that was the case in this situation.
I agree that parents need to be more strict, and that there is nothing wrong with spanking your kids; there is a difference between discipline and abuse. Sometimes, physical discipline is necessary, but everyone is so afraid now of being charged with child abuse, so they won't spank them. I definitely see the correlation between the way children behave now, and the way people parent nowadays, with no strict rules or discipline. I am only in my 20's myself, so it wasn't that long ago that I was young. Spanking was still acceptable when I was growing up, yet I was still attending school and around a lot of younger kids when the "spanking is wrong!" stuff started. I was shocked by how the younger children acted, and can't believe how much worse it has gotten since then. Though there are still good kids out there, there are so many that have no respect for others, that are given way too much freedom, and not enough guidelines and rules. I don't believe in coddling children, but I don't believe in allowing them complete freedom either. As a parent, part of your job is to help guide them, educate them, bring them up with good values and morals, and help them to try avoid mistakes, even if that means they get angry when you are trying to do those things, or don't agree with you.
That being said, without knowledge of what occurred within her family, you can't say this is a perfect example of a lack of guidance, and her parents being too lenient. Jasmine was not a young girl led astray by her older boyfriend; she was the one who manipulated, and orchestrated the entire thing. She is the one who asked him to do this, and she also showed little remorse afterward. She may have only been 12, but she was very intelligent for her age, and already a master manipulator, and some experts have said in their opinion she appears to be a sociopath. Her mom and dad might never have known or allowed her to attend the concert; they were concerned with her change in personality, and when they found out about her relationship with Jeremy, they certainly reacted, they grounded her, and forbid them to see one another. So, I don't think you can really say that it was because her parents weren't strict enough that this occurred.
I have seen some people comment on this case to say they don't understand why the parents didn't just call the cops and have Jeremy arrested, that they would have if it were them, and that maybe this whole thing would have been avoided if he was put in jail for statutory rape. But I think people forget that it's not illegal for a 23-year-old to date a 12-year-old, it's just illegal for him to have sex with her. It was admitted by them in trial that they did have a sexual relationship, but the problem is that her parents would have needed actual proof of that to call the cops and have him arrested. I doubt she would have admitted to her parents that they were sleeping together, so I don't think that it was necessarily a choice they had as to whether or not to call the cops. No evidence = no charges.
@American romance. If you read the book " runaway devil" about all this you see that her parents weren't soft. They punished her when she broke the rules. In the book her parents didn't spank her but they grounded her and took things such as her computer and phone away when she was in trouble. Also in the book the family was religious and went to church and the girl went to a catholic school as well. From reading the book it seems that strict rules and guidelines weren't the issue in this case.
@Kc: I definitely agree. Problems with mental health sometimes show themselves rather early in a person's life, and I think that is the case with Jasmine. It wasn't bad parenting, or lack of discipline in her case; there is obviously something else below the surface of "You won't let me see my boyfriend! I'm going to kill you!".
I think that unfortunately, Jasmine managed to find and hang around with others who did not take her threats seriously. Her friends all thought she was just blowing off steam, and the one person who knew she was being truthful was Jeremy, who just further indulged her in the strange, angry thoughts she was having. He turned it into a dark and morbid love story for her. Despite her being very intelligent, and being the manipulator behind the situation, she was still only 12; she lacked emotional maturity. I think that mixed with her mental illness, and confusion at her age about being in "love", (and having the man she thought she loved agree with, and indulge her murderous fantasies) managed to become the perfect cocktail for murder.
If you look at Jeremy,s face he does look quite scary and look,s like a bit of a violent and i wonder if he use 2 go threatning and is Jasmine stupid or what 2 hold up a gun no matter if it,s real or not in front of myspace or she,s just acting bad i guess .
Great hub. This is the reason non-violent offenders should not be kept locked up for years on end while a person with this capacity for brutality goes free due to age. I would not want her in my neighborhood.
Warmest regards,
Chris
I do believe in second chances, but this is so tough. Children this age can be so easily manipulated by twisted minds. Hate to know this kind of thing can happen on the same world my son lives...
kill her...she doesnt deserve to live
it doesn't mind if she was 12 or 20.. only a psychopath would kill their parents and a young child, watch them suffer, and then be seen laughing like nothing happened. this girl should have been given life no matter what her age- she will definitely be a serial killer as an adult.
k , put aside her punishment and treatment! This freak of nature will be out walking the streets, in less than a year, now mature and ready to repeat!!
If the name of the killer had "Jason" Richardson, we'd have stuck the little in prison for much, much longer.
Women really do get away with murder.
@dragnet
Actually, her sentence had nothing to do with her being a female. She was sentenced to the maximum sentence for a juvenile in Canada; if it had been a 12 year old boy, he would have received the same sentence.
this is just insane. Hope she gets completely rehabilitated after her sentence. Also, his boyfriend is hideous. Can't imagine a girl as pretty as her could make out with that kind of man.
she can never be trusted,she should be locked up and just forgotten.Too bad there is no more lynchmobbing anymore.I hope you read this Jasmine and I hope that you always pay for it.
I hope you burn in hell Jasmine
Jasmine will never escape her past and that I believe is the worst punishment she will ever recieve.
Its true,no matter her age she should not be released. You can hate your parents and even wish them bad or to die sometimes in anger. But you will never really mean it or do it.(If you are normal). She has shown no sign of regret and that is a MAJOR sign that she is not at all a normal girl in any way. Yeah she's a girl and she was just 12... easy to influence yes; but at that age you know whats right from wrong. Besides if you already are sleeping with boys and planning on killing then i think you are adult enough to stand the consequences. No mercy for this demonic "child"!
That was really terrible.
Stupid little girl. And her boyfriend is a fucking loser. Werewolf, really? They're both stupid, selfish, and cold-blooded. They both should be on their knees, begging for their life as they're stabbed to death like they did to her family. They were let off too easy.
People who are blaming this behavior on a lack of discipline obviously know nothing about psychology. This girl is a psychopath, plain and simple. Putting this child in church groups obviously did nothing to help. Her parents constantly grounding her and taking away privileges did little to change her attitude. If anything, this probably fueled her to misbehave even more. This child was defiant and manipulative from the very beginning, doing what pleased her because that's what psychopaths do. They are egotistical beings who feel no remorse for their actions and only care for themselves. What kind of healthy person comes to the conclusion of KILLING their parents and sibling to be with someone, though the family was protective, loving and had absolutely no history of abuse? It doesn't happen. Healthy people have reason, the ability to think and decipher whether their actions are going to be harmful to others. Jasmine threw everything away, without a second thought, to have a sexual relationship with a pedophile. But we'll just blame that on bad parenting, too.
Jasmine's parents were not push-overs, and that's exactly why she planned for them to die. The 12 year old was forbidden from seeing Jeremy when her parents said that there was no way in Hell their daughter was going to be dating a 23 year old guy from the Internet who thought he was a 300 year old werewolf, who also happened to have a violent history. Because they put their foot down, she acted like a 12 year old would and threw a fit. But unlike a usual 12 year old, she withdrew herself, drew pictures of her family dying and of the twisted 'couple' laughing, which she kept inside her school locker, like a dumbass.
Like the manipulative little wench she is, she convinced Jeremy that she was living in a Hell hole and that her parents and brother deserved to die so they could be together. After they went through with Jasmine's plan, how did she repay him? With sex, no shocker there. Even years after her sentencing, Jasmine still does not comprehend the severity of her crimes, all because she felt it was right to be with a 300 year old 'werewolf' from MySpace. Oh! But look, turns out they broke up in prison. Yet she still hasn't felt an ounce of guilt for ending the lives of her parents and little brother for a man who preys on children. To think that she's now attending University and will be completely free one day sickens me. This is a person who would kill you for a fucking Klondike bar. This is a person who would gladly kill innocent people again to get what she wants. As a Canadian, I'm appalled by our judicial system. Anyone who conspires to kill their family to be with a violent pedophile deserves a life sentence, no matter what age they are. And please, people, don't blame this girl's actions on her parents or a lack of attention. You're only validating her crime.
Does anyone know how to contact Jasmine? Like to write her maybe? I would like to. Just to talk to her, say hi maybe. I wont say anything mean to her. I just want to talk. If anyone can help, i'd appreaciate it. Thanks.
She was a child... She need help yet no one saw the signs. How can you people judge her family when they are dead?. Her so called "boyfriend" only wanted her for sex. He probably latherd her up by saying "I love you soo much, your mine and only mine" she believed him. Any child at that age would sneak out to go to a punk rock concert..... R.I.P family.
Yes she was a monster for doing that... But she needed help.....
It's shocking that this is real life; it sounds like something out of a fiction mystery novel. Perhaps living with strict parents made her ruthlessly crave for a sense of freedom, hence attending a punk rock concert. Preteen girls are at an awkward stage where they are just sprouting out of being a little kid and are just trying to have a sense of identity, and yes, have little understanding of relationships. I can imagine that Jeremy charmed her with his free-spirited and independent style and the fact that a much older man took interest in her. Perhaps she saw him as a father figure?
It makes me sick to my stomach that a 23 year old man would date a 12 year old girl and would encourage her to murder her parents and little brother. If only society wouldn't allow people like Jeremy to walk the streets
Luzz:
Yes, she needed help, definitely. However, if she is a psychopath, then that just complicates things. Psychopaths are masters at lying and manipulating. They know how to "blend in with the natives", and appear "normal". She never would've asked for help, because a psychopath sees nothing wrong with themselves. They cannot comprehend how their actions effect others, and honestly cannot see what the big deal is. They view their behavior as quite normal. Which is why, if she is a psychopath, it would be a horrible idea to release her. She'll never understand why what she did was wrong, so she will never regret it. Sure, she can feign feeling guilt and regret in order to make things go smoother for her with their doctors and in court but it's all a lie.
I believe this girl should be institutionalized for the rest of her life. A psychopath can never be trusted in outside society, and there is no known course of rehabilitation that is successful for these people. That's just my opinion on it.
LR:
She most likely would've committed a serious crime with, or without, him. If not him, than someone else or maybe she would've done it alone, somehow. Or perhaps she would've committed some other serious crime. She obviously had the propensity for violence within her from the start, it's just that the pairing of her and Steinke created just the right volatile mix to bring it out in her.
She is no "innocent little girl" who was seduced by the "evil pedophile" into doing this. (Technically, he's not a pedophile and that girl looks to be about 17 or 18 in those pictures. Not trying to excuse anything, just making a point.)
I'd say they're both equally liable here.
wow people think that all goths are like thta no they are not it just they have different backgrouds to other goths or that they were mistreated in there life time
way to go girl bet it was goood when you butchered them did you drink your btothers blood
@Frank;
I'm a little late in replying to this, but just...no.
She is no "innocent little girl" who was seduced by the "evil pedophile" into doing this. (Technically, he's not a pedophile and that girl looks to be about 17 or 18 in those pictures. Not trying to excuse anything, just making a point.)
I'm sorry, but what? How is he "technically" not a pedophile? He was 23 years old, she was 12. If you want to get "technical" or "legal" about it, pedophilia is diagnosed or characterized by a primary or exclusive interest in prepubescent children, generally under the age of 13. The second criteria is that the child must be at least 5 years younger than the perpetrator. Jasmine was only 12, and was 11 years younger than him. She fits the bill, regardless of how old you think she looks in those photos. There is absolutely no excuse or exception that as long as the girl LOOKS older than she is because she dresses up and applies makeup, that it is not pedophilia. Jeremy might not have known her age when he first met her, but once he found out, he didn't stop dating her. In fact, he went ahead and had sex with her anyways, knowing her true age. She was not emotionally or physically an adult, period. He is a pedophile.
Wow I can't believe someone suggested that a child who is not spanked routinely will end up killing her parents!!! This girl is a sociopath without conscience. She should be locked in prison the rest of her life. It is unfortunate that she is free. Sadly she will do something like this again.
I'm in love with this girl! She's such a sexy, naughty, devious girl and she just doesn't give a f*ck.
When i read about how she stabbed her little 8 year old brother to death and slit his throat after he pleaded for his life ("I'm scared. I'm too young to die") and then laughed about the murders with her boyfriend 100 miles away two hours later, i got a boner. This is the kind of girl I've been looking for my whole life! A sexy, strong, independent minded evil girl who can present a challenge to me. I want to marry her!
Any moron who wants to get involved with either the girl or ugly, loser guy deserves what they get. Seriously, you guys are mentally disturbed.
@ Alex You need help your a sicko!!!! I will pray for you!!!
Some of these posts are sick.
She lives in Edmonton/Calgary!!?? Same province as me? I already don't feel safe knowing a brutal killer is walking free. Four years isn't enough for having the heartlessness to kill a child that young, especially her own brother. When I was in grade seven, I was more worried about having friends than pleasing a man eleven years older..
Is there anyway Alex can be tracked down and charged for this comment made? I think Alex needs an individual psychic evaluation and possibly institutionalized. This is the type of people we have to be aware of as it is those people who act on their fantasies and commit these heinous crimes. If you wish this type of evil girl, how about when you get that boner, I cut it off for you? Hhmmmmm what does that do for you? Still feelin' sexy, sick and devilish?
I'm not sure exactly what you think he could be charged with. What he said may be disgusting, but he has a right to free speech. The truth is he is probably just looking for a reaction; he wants attention.
this girl needs to stay in jail thats just sick
Yhey, this is Canada. Kids killing parents is a great way to get into university. No old age pension to pay for two old people. Sounds so right, for Canadians, for some strange reason
Seriously get over it everybody, this is Canada!You kill your wife after years of physically abusing her you get 3 to 4 years.You molest children you get probation.A wife who has been beaten for years snaps and kills her husband she get's life with the possibility of parole after 12 years.Crackheads who rob you at knife point are released immediately to reoffend.Apparently you can kill someone on a greyhound bus with a knife and eat their bodyparts and be released less than 3 years later on day parole in Canada!
does anyone know if there is a way to contact jasmine ?
i'm extremely interested in this case and i would find talking to jasmine to be very satisfying as i have been doing a lot of research on the case and on her specifically.
Troll harder, trolls.
This article was absolutelt horrifying to read. Those poor people... I have no words. This is simply horrendous.
@Alex
Ooookay, you're obviously as sick in the head as her. You need some mental help. Have fun with the life sentence you'll likely get if you two hook up.
people like this need to be sent to a camp and exterminated
ok... first off you all on here are retarded for saying that shit about Jasmine. No ONE has a right to judge anyone but god himself!! yea she was very wrong but it only tells us what was said online...we have no clue if the 2 met and talked before any of that stuff was said online and found as evidence. Yes she needs help because obviously at the time she didnt understand it was wrong but you also got to look at that she supposedly was in love with Jason at the time so she probably ate up every word he said and did everything he suggested. Like most girls who think they are in love or fall in love for the first time does. And since she was 12 I bet she didnt have much adult relationships i bet even that this was her first relationship. Jason complete phsycopath...really? Who in their right mind say they are what people consider a mythical creature. But he might not have been as dumb as we think considering he might have thought if he said that they might sent him to a pchyco ward....which i know in usa its likely to happen. Now Im not saying they are not wrong I am just saying that we can not judge them just by what we read about them. From my understanding from what was wrote was that Jasmine was nothing like that before she met the dude. And considering her parents let her go to the concert she might have went with friends that the parents trusted. I do agree with the parents though dude was a pedifile, if I ever caught my 12 year old daughter dating a 23 year old or my son for that matter id be mad to... the only difference is I would put a straining order on the older person. You know from all the comments on here all I see is this person should pretty much be killed... in my opinion that doesnt make you any better for wishing that a 12 year old should have been killed that is horrible. And Alex your just wrong really? You want a girl who doesnt think about what her actions does to others? I understand doing things to an extent but I seriously dont see having someone like that as a girlfriend or wife material...exspecially if you want kids in the future.. if she is still thinks like that then she would never think of you or the children first... if she has changed awesome for her...
She doesn't deserve to see the light of day.
She is the one who deserves to die for what's she's done. She had no right to kill them.Just because she forbidded you from seeing that low-life doesn't mean you had to kill them and your brother do anything!!!!!! You bitch I hope you rot in hell you were better off without that bastard who thinks he's a fucking 300 year old werewolf,that retard
She's sixteen and doesn't understand the severity of her crimes? That says it all right there. She killed three people and her eight year old brother pleaded for his life and she can't understand the severity of this. Keep this slut bitch locked up for the rest of her unnatural life! She's either evil or a total retard. Either way she's a danger to society. I'm not saying mistreat her, just keep her away from the rest of us!
Maybe she's like to set up a MySpace page for her brother since he'll never be able to do it for himself.
shut up DJMarie,
she is guilty for what she did. she was old enough to know right from wrong (unless she truly is insane, which was NOT proven). They were both F&*cked up. You can just blame the guy for everything. Good hell, girls need to take responsibility for what they've done just like guys have to. Very sexist.
can = can't
I would not trust her,she should stay in jail for the rest of her life and think about her crimes.this if she has a conscience at all.
American Romance Level 7 Commenter 18 months ago
I have constantly been criticised for telling others to spank their children and become more strict! Why? because they are children and need strong guidance! Here is a perfect example! No 12 year old should have been at a punk rock concert in the first place! She should have been home or at a church function with teens her own age! Momma always said you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas!