Overview
Richard Trenton Chase (May 23, 1950 – December 26, 1980) was an American serial killer who murdered six people over the course of one month in Sacramento, California, in late 1977 and early 1978. The brutality of his crimes, which included cannibalism and the drinking of his victims' blood, earned him the nickname the "Vampire of Sacramento." Chase suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and harbored delusions that his blood was turning to powder and that he needed the blood of others to survive. His brief but extraordinarily violent killing spree and his disorganized methods made him a significant case study in the early development of FBI criminal profiling.
Early Life and Mental Illness
Chase was born in Santa Clara County, California, and raised in Sacramento. Accounts of his childhood describe a troubled upbringing, and he reportedly exhibited elements of the so-called Macdonald triad, including bedwetting and cruelty to animals. As a young adult he abused alcohol and drugs and developed increasingly severe mental health problems.
By his late teens and early twenties, Chase had become hypochondriacal and delusional, convinced that his internal organs were shifting, that his heart would stop, and that his blood was disappearing. He believed that consuming blood could replenish his own and prevent his body from deteriorating. These fixations led him to capture and kill small animals, sometimes consuming them raw or mixing their organs and blood into drinks. In 1976 he was committed to a mental institution after being found with blood from animals he had killed; staff reportedly nicknamed him "Dracula." He was eventually released and placed in the care of his family, and his medications were not consistently managed.
The Murders
Chase's documented killing spree began on December 29, 1977, when he shot and killed Ambrose Griffin, a 51-year-old engineer, in a drive-by shooting as Griffin helped his wife carry groceries. In the weeks that followed, neighbors reported a disturbing series of incidents, including a home found smeared with blood.
On January 23, 1978, Chase entered the home of 22-year-old Teresa Wallin, who was three months pregnant. He shot and killed her, then mutilated her body in a horrific manner consistent with his delusional needs. Days later, on January 27, 1978, he committed his most devastating attack at the home of Evelyn Miroth. There he killed 38-year-old Miroth, her 6-year-old son Jason, her 51-year-old friend Daniel Meredith, and Miroth's 22-month-old nephew David. The infant's body was later found dismembered. In total, Chase killed six people. The savagery and the evidence of cannibalism and blood-drinking at the scenes shocked investigators and the public.
Investigation and Capture
The Miroth crime scene provided crucial evidence. Chase fled when interrupted by a child knocking at the door, leaving behind bloody footprints and fingerprints. Investigators recovered Daniel Meredith's stolen vehicle, which Chase had used to escape.
The FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, including agents Robert Ressler, became involved and produced a profile predicting that the killer would be a thin, white male in his mid-to-late twenties, disheveled, malnourished, and living alone in squalor near the crime scenes. This profile closely matched Chase. Acting on tips and physical evidence, including the recovered fingerprint, police identified and arrested Chase. His apartment was found in a filthy, chaotic state, containing blood-stained items, human and animal remains, and evidence that linked him directly to the murders.
Trial and Death
Chase was charged with six counts of murder. His trial raised significant questions about his sanity, given his documented and severe psychiatric illness. The defense argued he was not legally responsible due to his mental state, while the prosecution maintained that the deliberate nature of his actions, including escaping and concealing evidence, demonstrated awareness of wrongdoing.
In 1979, Chase was convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He was held on death row at California State Prison in San Quentin. On December 26, 1980, Chase was found dead in his cell, having died from an overdose of antidepressant medication that he had reportedly hoarded over time. His death was ruled a suicide.
Legacy
The Richard Chase case became an influential example in the field of criminal profiling. FBI investigators classified Chase as a "disorganized" offender, contrasting him with "organized" killers, a distinction that shaped early profiling methodology and was discussed extensively in the work of former FBI agents Robert Ressler and others.
The case also fueled ongoing debate about the intersection of severe mental illness and violent crime, particularly regarding the adequacy of psychiatric care, monitoring of released patients, and access to firearms. Chase had legally purchased weapons despite his documented history of institutionalization. His story has been referenced in numerous books, documentaries, and academic discussions of forensic psychology and the failures of mental health systems.
