Erica Richardson (center) with her parents
Real Name: Erica Linnea Richardson
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: Valrico, Florida
Date: December 8, 1997
Case
Details: Thirty-three-year-old Erica Richardson earned a degree in microbiology from the University of Florida. After that, she 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 Valrico. In 1997, she met an electrician named John Feiga; they fell in love right away. At first, her family believed that he was likable and charming. She invited him to move in with her, but the relationship began to unravel soon after.
Her family says that he became increasingly jealous and tried to isolate her from them and her friends. 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. 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, 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 her. She agreed to meet with him later. Imogene saw her leave with him following behind her. That was the last time she saw her alive.
After not hearing from her for two days, Imogene called her house. When she didn't get an answer, she called the pharmacy. They said that she had not shown up for work. She went to her daughter's house and saw Feiga's truck in the driveway. When she peered in the window, she saw a bloody knife on the floor. Tragically, police soon discovered Erica's body in the kitchen. She had been stabbed several times.
Authorities discovered signs of a struggle in the kitchen. Another person's blood had been mixed with hers. Detectives suspected that it belonged to Feiga, but without a DNA sample from him, authorities could not prove it. His fingerprints were all over the crime scene. However, this did not prove anything, since he had lived there. Erica's 1992 Honda was missing, and witnesses had seen Feiga driving it shortly after the murder. It was located on December 23 in Lafayette, Louisiana, in a parking lot near his hometown, but he has not been seen since.
Feiga 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. However, they do want to question him.
Suspects: John Feiga is considered the prime suspect in her murder. However, police do not have enough evidence to charge him.
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the August 22, 2002 episode. Feiga was also profiled on America’s Most Wanted.
Results: Solved. In July of 2008, DNA from the crime scene was matched to an unidentified body in a Louisiana morgue. The corpse, known as "John Doe A98-071", was pulled from the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana on April 13, 1998, four months after the murder. Dental records confirmed that the body belonged to John Feiga. As a result, Erica's murder case was closed. Ironically, John had also been murdered, but his killer has never been found.
Sadly, Erica's parents have since passed away.
Links:
- Police still searching for victim's boyfriend
- Body Found In '98 Is That Of Suspect In Local Slaying
- Valrico Family Relieved With Case Closed
- Bone Remains: Cold Cases in Forensic Anthropology
- Erica Richardson on Find a Grave