Bio

James Edward Ruzicka was born in 1950. He grew up in an abusive home. From the age of nine, he spent time in and out of juvenile facilities and prisons. 

He turned to drugs early in his life. He abused substances like LSD, cocaine, mescaline, and heroin. His behavior became more harmful over time. He engaged in bestiality when he was young and later moved on to molesting young girls.

At the age of 23, Ruzicka was convicted of raping two women in Washington State. He used a knife during these attacks. The court recognized him as a "sexual psychopath." Instead of serving a prison sentence, he was given a ten-year sentence that was suspended. This meant that he could avoid prison time if he went to a sex-offender rehabilitation program at Western State Hospital, near Tacoma.

Ruzicka took advantage of this opportunity. Once at the hospital, he became a trusty. This role allowed him to escort other patients to their work stations outside the hospital's maximum-security area. The staff believed he could be trusted and eventually gave him a 48-hour furlough. However, Ruzicka did not return after that time.

After escaping, he moved back in with his ex-wife and her new husband. He lived with them for a while before deciding to live on his own. His time on the run was short, only lasting about four weeks.

Murder Story

In 1973, James Edward Ruzicka, who had been deemed a "sexual psychopath," committed two murders in Seattle, Washington. After escaping from Western State Hospital, he abducted two teenage girls, Nancy Kinghammer, 16, and Penny Haddenham, 14, from their homes at night. His crimes occurred within four weeks of his escape.

Penny Haddenham was the first victim to be found. Investigators discovered her body hanging from a tree near the West Seattle Expressway. An autopsy revealed that she had been raped and then strangled. Ruzicka hid Nancy Kinghammer's body in a vacant lot, where it was found a month later. Her corpse was concealed beneath trash and wrapped in towels.

After the murders, Ruzicka was arrested in Beaverton, Oregon, for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. He later confessed to the murders of Nancy and Penny. At his trial, he was convicted on all counts and received two consecutive life terms in prison. This sentence was to be served after he completed his time for the crime in Oregon.