Richard Ricci

Richard Albert Ricci (1953-2002) was the main suspect in the dissapearance of 14-year-old girl Elizabeth Smart of Utah, taken away from her house at gunpoint on the morning of June 5, of 2002. Smart was found alive by police in March, 2003 in the company of a Brian Mitchell, whom authorities believe abducted her.

Ricci, a handyman who also used the aliases of Albert Richard Ricci and Rick Ricci, had performed many jobs at the Smarts' home and, according to the police and people who know the Smarts, used to know the house's structure very well. That, and the fact that Ricci's white Jeep Cherokee was found to have many extra unexplained miles on its odometer when it was taken to a repair shop on June 8, made Ricci a prime suspect.

Ricci, described by many that knew him as a "ladies' man", was booked for a unrelated parole violation a few days after the disappearance, but he suffered a brain hemorrhage while in jail and died in a Utah hospital.

Richard Ricci