Erica Richardson
Real Name: Erica Richardson
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: Valrico, Florida
Date: December 8, 1997
Case
Details: Erica Richardson had earned a degree in microbiology from the University of Florida and had completed post-graduate work in pharmaceuticals at Howard University, graduating magna cum laude. She was also the manager of a pharmacy in Tampa and had recently purchased her own home in the suburb of Valrico. Then, in 1997, she met an electrician named John Feiga and they fell in love right away. She invited him to move into her apartment, but soon after the relationship began to unravel. Her family says that John became increasingly jealous and tried to isolate her from her friends and family. He also exhibited wild mood swings and repeatedly called her at work, accusing her of being unfaithful and making unreasonable demands. She eventually had enough and made him move out. However, even after leaving, his erratic behavior continued, and he began stalking her, showing up at the pharmacy unannounced, harassing her, and threatening physical harm. She filed a restraining order against him, but he continued to show up at her house until she had him arrested. Despite this, he continued to pursue her. On a Saturday a few weeks before Christmas 1997, she met with her mother Imogene at a local mall to do some shopping. When they drove to the back to get some purchases at a loading dock, Feiga pulled up from behind and said he wanted to talk with Erica. Imogene saw her leave with him following behind her, and that was the last time she saw her alive. After not hearing from her for two days, she went to her house and saw John's truck was in the driveway, and when she peered in the window, she saw a bloody knife and called the police. They soon discovered Erica's body in her kitchen. She had been stabbed several times. Authorities determined that there had been signs of a struggle and another person's blood had been mixed with hers. Detectives suspected that it belonged to John, but without a DNA sample from him, authorities could not prove it. Also, her 1992 Honda was missing, and witnesses had seen John driving it shortly after the murder. It was later located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in a parking lot near his hometown, but he has not been seen since. He is wanted for grand theft auto and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, but authorities do not have enough evidence to charge him in her murder, though they do want to question him.
Suspects: John Feiga
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the August 22, 2002 episode.
Results: Solved. After 11 years without answers to Erica's murder, police have found out what became of John - he was already dead. Six months after the murder, on April 13, 1998, the body of a black male was found floating in the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana. The police there couldn't identify it and labeled it a John Doe. In July 2008, DNA from the murder scene matched the body. It took a comparison of dental records to prove John was dead. Erica's murder case was closed. Ironically, John had also been murdered, but it is unknown by whom.
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