Bio

Richard Strong was born on March 4, 1967. He grew up in a challenging environment that played a significant role in shaping his life.

By the time he reached adulthood, Strong had developed a series of personal relationships, including one with Eva Washington. They had two daughters together. At the time of a significant event in his life, Strong was living with Eva and their children in St. Louis County, Missouri.

Strong's life began to change significantly in the late 1990s. He faced personal and legal troubles that strained his relationships and mental health.

On October 23, 2000, the police were called to the apartment where Strong lived with Eva and her children. This marked a turning point in Strong's life, leading to his arrest and eventual sentencing. Strong's early life experiences, marked by instability and personal challenges, provided a backdrop to the events that would unfold in his later years.

Murder Story

On October 23, 2000, at about 3:30 p.m., St. Ann police received a 911 call from Eva Washington's apartment. The call was abruptly disconnected, but the dispatcher replayed it and heard a scream. Officers arrived at the apartment within two minutes. When they knocked on the doors, there was no answer at first. Eventually, Richard Strong, who was inside the apartment, came to the back door.

During questioning, Strong told the police that Eva and her two daughters were sleeping. When asked why the door was locked, he claimed he was locked out. As officers observed Strong, they noticed he was sweating excessively, had dark stains on his jeans, and blood on his left hand. The officers demanded that he step aside and then forcibly entered the apartment. Strong attempted to flee, telling the officers to shoot him.

Once apprehended, he confessed to the police, saying, "I killed them." Inside the apartment, officers found the bodies of Eva and her two-year-old daughter, Zandrea Thomas, in a back bedroom. Both had been stabbed multiple times with a knife. A butcher knife was discovered on the bed, and a three-month-old baby was found unharmed beside a pool of blood.

An autopsy revealed that Eva had been stabbed 21 times with five slash wounds, and the knife was embedded in her skull. Zandrea had been stabbed nine times and had several slash wounds. Richard Strong was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. At trial, a jury found him guilty, and they recommended the death penalty. The court sentenced him to death on May 9, 2003.

Strong appealed the decision, but the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and death sentences. Following his appeal, Strong filed a motion for post-conviction relief. This motion was denied after a hearing, in which the judge concluded that Strong did not demonstrate effective assistance of counsel or that he was prejudiced by his trial. Strong’s claims, including the use of peremptory strikes against jurors based on their religion and trial strategy decisions, were not sufficient to secure a new trial.