Richard Grissom Jr. -- 20 years later

Grissom, convicted in the 1989 murders of three young women, is one of Johnson County's most notorious killers. Tony Rizzo has a really good story this morning about the anniversary. Found guilty on 11 counts during his 1990 trial, Grissom is serving a series of life sentences at El Dorado. He was 29 then. He's 48 now. The bodies of those women -- Joan Butler, Theresa Brown and Christine Rusch -- have never been found, despite all the years that have passed.

The conviction was especially noteworthy because of that. The prosecution -- led by then-DA Paul Morrison -- had to win largely on circumstantial evidence. The police found Grissom's prints, plus his wallets and checkbook, in Butler's rental car. And they found bank cards and keys from Rusch and Brown, who were roommates, in Grissom's car.

Here are links to the Charley Project, which has pages dedicated to Butler, Rusch  and Brown. A book, "Suddenly Gone," was written about the case.

Butler was 24 when she was killed. She lived in Overland Park and worked for an advertising firm in Kansas City, where she was a media buyer. She disappeared on Father's Day, the first that she hadn't spent with her family. She told friends, whom she'd gone dancing with that night, that she planned to call her dad, but she was never seen again. Instead, a series of withdrawals were made from accounts at ATMs in Johnson County that morning.

Brown and Rusch were a couple of years younger -- they shared an apartment in Lenexa. Rusch worked for her dad in North Kansas City, Brown was a dental assistant. Grissom, who owned a painting company, had done work at their complex and reportedly knew the women.

Those weren't Grissom's first murders, by the way. At the advanced age of 16, Grissom murdered an elderly woman in Lansing, Kan., by beating her to death with a railroad spike. After he was implicated in the 1989 homicides, he was questioned in a couple of other cases, but never charged.

Comments

[Carole Duffield]

I have met Ralph Butler, he is very nice and deserves to know what happened, My daughters, Janelle and Kelly Duffield were also murdered, and I can't imagine not knowing what had happened to them. These families deserve to know what happened to them and where they are. Grissom is such a controlling coward.
My prayers and wishes to all the families.
Carole Duffield

[Michael R Napier]

Richard Grissom remains a man without conscience and likely believes society has done terrible things to him, not the reverse. He is a hollow form without the necessary internal mechanism to have compassion for all his young women victims and their families. He is a good example of a wasting oxygen by remaining on earth. In his twisted mind he believes he is admired and worthy of attention, when the reality is that he continues to be a coward with no redeeming traits.

Mike Napier

[Marvin]

Prisons exist for people like him.

[Obama is the Man]

Grissom has a date before the Judgment Seat..

[Brad]

Grissom will never get out, but there's a chance that Michael Cade can? How is this possible?

[Msskt]

And they say we should not use water boarding. You think if this guy did this in the middle east he would be put in a cell and left alone? Bet they could get him to talk.

[Samsmama]

Ralph Butler is my great uncle. Joan is my second cousin. My dad was the last family member to see her alive. Thank you for this.

[Patrick Henderson]

I knew Joannie Butler as a classmate and a friend from Kindergarten through graduation from Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita. I considered her a good friend and have many, many fond memories of her. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't stop and think of her.

It is unfortunate that the animal (I cannot bring myself to mention its name) who is currently being incarcerated by the State of Kansas, willfully refuses to this day to reveal what it did with her and the others remains. Their families and friends deserve to know what happened to their loved ones and to have some closure.

[cheryl]

I had a close call in Lawrence right before he was caught. He was interested in my roommate at the time and she had wanted to invite him over to our place after a night of dancing at a club. For some weird reason I panicked after looking at him and practically dragged my roommate out of the club begging to just go home. It wasn't until the following Monday night that we caught a broadcast stating that they were looking for Grissom in Lawrence in connection to the missing women. I don't know why I was warned -- I'm thankful, but wish instead that the other girls could've gotten the warning instead.

I'm so sorry for their loss and I know now what a true evil feels like.

God bless you.

[kelly]

I will always honor and think and dream about these girls. I have come to feel like sisters' Their families deserve answers. I would face the monster myself if I thought I could do any good. I am there any time, any day. Much love to Theresa, Christine and Joan; I had the privilege of learning then knowing you, will NEVER forget, nor never stop looking for you.

[Johna]

This man murdered my aunt the day before I was born. My mother found out of her little sisters death four hours after giving birth to me by watching the news that afternoon June 1, 1989. Because of him I will never get to know my aunt. I remeber asking about her all the time when I was little and my mothers voice would crack when she spoke of her. I wish I could have met her. She seemed like such a beautiful and exciting person. This mans destiny is waiting for him in hell and until then I hope everyday the face of my aunt haunts him.

[Michon]

I was acquainted with Grissom in the early 80's when I attended K-State. He was a tennis player, or at least thats what he pretended. He was in the clubs dancing in Aggieville every night and was quite "charming". I feel absolutely lucky not to have been one of his victims! I assume that the authorities have searched the Manhattan area, Tuttle Creek, etc for the bodies of his victims?

[jean rago]

I just read the book and it keeps haunting me. If something happened to my child it would be devastating. I hope the bodies are found. Can't anything be done to get it out of him like truth serum? Does that exist?

[Matthew Sheldon]

I see that the mother of Janelle and Kelly Duffield posted a comment here. I grew up in Olathe and attended Havencroft Elementary school at the time of the murders. I was 9 years old. I remember walking near the home the day after (my older brother knew Paul at the time) and seeing the police tape and the bicycles in the front yard. It was awful and surreal. It was a moment that shaped my childhood and gave the town nightmares for years afterwards. It was so cruel and unwarranted. I remember the day at school when the teachers left to attend the funerals. My teacher broke down in front of the class and many of the girls in class started crying too. Several other teachers ran in to comfort her and talk to the class. You can never forget moments like that. I hope we don't so that things (they are not men) like Grissom and Cade can serve as examples of what happens to soul-less, cruel creatures like them.

May their victims rest in peace knowing that we have not forgotten them, and that justice will be served.

[J]

My mom and dad knew Grissom when he lived in Nebraska. They all played racquetball together and at one point my mom and her friend drove to Texas with him for a tournament. They ended up staying with relatives after driving 10 hours in a car with no air conditioning. My mom and her friend believe that the car and them not having any money saved their lives. At the time they did not realize that he had killed someone at age 16. May the three women rest in peace.

[rod]

Richard used to buy beer for a guy i worked with when he was not old enough. What suprised him was his quiet demeanor. he never acting strange or what you would think a serial killer would act like. I think the fact that they blend into society so well is more "unnerving" than anything. And to know that he knows where they are does let torture for the truth creep into your thoughts. Hopefully life in prison is slowly rotting him.

[Mark]

I hope he dies a slow violent death- Mark

["P.N."]

I am the one who got away...I disappeared from my entire life 3 weeks before the first murder because I realized what was coming for me. I don't know why I was spared,I am horrified that these girl's weren't. Richard has haunted my life since he walked into my life...when you meet him, he is the warmest, most charming, intelligent, and charismatic man...but then, it all changes. As you slowly get your mind wrapped around this man's troubled past and the gashes in his soul you begin to see through the exterior...so capable and strong. Your blood runs cold as your eyes focus on what your mind has difficulty accepting...that you are his prey. He toys with you like a cat toys w/a mouse before it kills it. I spent an entire year and a half with Richard in my life everyday. He was in my small inner circle. There were so many signs as I look back, but you dismiss them as you run them through your own healthy mind. In a moment's notice you grasp your situation as the danger mounts and circles you. You can taste it in the air...I chose to leap. I am 47 yrs old today bc I did, I was 22 at the time. This is the first time I have spoken of this event except for a small group of trusted friends. A weight has been lifted off my chest but the innocence I lost toward the people walking into my life will never lift. My prayers and thoughts have never left these families...and never will.

[Claire]

Mr. Grissom never killed these three women, they are missing and the person responsible is well known. Sadly there are people out there who really believe these things about such an intelligent, worthy, innocent man. If you believe he did these things you should know he didn't and many know who did. Don't be so easily fooled. Hopefully, when his appeal arises the true person responsible for this will suffer as badly in prison as he has. The girls deserve the real person to be brought to justice in memory of their sweet names.

[PN]

"Claire"....you are the one fooled...I am so glad that you weren't in his inner sanctum....you would certainly be joining the list of victims. You, dear girl, are absolutely ignorant in this situation. I'm sure the family of the older woman he tied up, tortured, and gutted when he was 16 appreciates your character reference. I'm sure you believe what you wrote with your whole heart...but you are wrong. I'm just glad you aren't DEAD WRONG.

[Connie Ogle Hall]

I am watching "Moon Shot" with my science class today, and an astronaut by the last name Grissom is in the video... now, here I am, wondering what ever happened to that serial killer who's name is regretably seared to my mind. I was hopping he was dead. I was 25, and in Johnson County, a K-State grad, when he killed. I didn't know the women he took, but I prayed waited and grieved like most of the city. He's a robber of the worst kind. I was friends with Kelly Duffield and remeber exactly where I was when I got the call that she was missing, her sister was dead and her brother was fighting for his life. I hate remebering because robbers like that generate lifelong fear for the safety of our loved ones. They teach us that we are never truly safe. But I will never forget, so I can continue to pray for those who's pain is also lifelong. To the Butler's, Rusch's, Brown's and Duffields's, just in case you wonder...we still remember.

[c]

I knew and saw this man on a daily basis when I worked for the D.O.C. He is a very cold person to be around. For anyone to say that he was/is charming to be around is crazy. The guy was creepy. I know it is not much comfort, but he is getting what he deserves short of capital punishment...

[Stacy]

I was in my early 20's when that thing killed and tortured those beautiful gifts from God. I still remember the apartment complex I was living in at the time and noticing things moved around and not in their places. I even received threatening calls from a male telling me he was watching us (my roommate and I). We were told he could see everything and we were not to contact the police or we would end up dead. He called one afternoon and my roommate answered the phone and he explained what I have written above. We did contact the police and he had the odacity to call with the police in the apartment and told them we had done it now and we were targets for rape and death. I begged the police to put someone on standby outside but they said they didn't have the man power (Shawnee). My brother sat all night in his car with a butcher knife to keep watch. Of course, it was difficult to get any sleep. I moved shortly after. No more than a month passed when I heard about that thing and the women he had murdered. I thank God if it was him calling and in our apartment that we were spared. God protected us and kept us safe. I think it was too difficult for him to pinpoint when we would be home. We both had boyfriends and full time jobs and never kept a constant schedule. This would be my advise to anyone. Don't ever keep the same schedule. Mix it up a bit so just in case, it would be difficult for you to be attacked. To this day I cannot believe that he will not surrender the bodies of those girls. He hasn't passed the worst Judgement of all yet and he certainly will. Of all the Psychics
in the world I beg of you to please work on this case and bring these girls home. Don't let them remain that things discards. I have seen some unbelieveable things from Psychics so why not here in Kansas City. Please, we beg you to help those families at whatever cost. My heart and prayers go out to all of you. I do realize the Psychics
thing doesn't match up with my religious beliefs but God sends messages in many ways. God Bless you all and use any means to solve this for these families. As far as I am concerned we are too protective of the thing. Someone in that prison could make him talk. Transfer him to a prison where they can get him to talk. There are several humane ways this can be done. So Do It!

[Sandy]

To the lady who said her roommate was going to invite him over after a night at the club. I have not seen you in more than 20yrs but remember that same story that you told me on the steps behind the Union. I too have not forgotten and was just surfing around to see what that scum is doing now. He looks just as scary as he did then. Some day the truth will come out and these families can rest their hearts. your in my prayers.

Faith is being certain of what it is that you hope for and knowing what it is that you cannot see.

[Stephanie Hill]

About 10 years ago I became a Pin pal of Richard Grissom. My family had a fit. I guess at 38 you would know better. I even put money on the books for him. He also had me copy some art of his. The behavior went on for several months. Each time his request for money were getting out of control. I finally stop any contact with him. We never did talk about the women he killed. As I have grown older I feel like a piece of crap for having anything to do with this MONSTER

[Dennis Prochazka]

i worked with theresa browns mom at that time and she really aged due to that sick son of a bitch richard grissom as they say an eye for an eye but GODS judgement on him will be greater

[Mike]

Poor Clair
You obviously have been fooled by this pathetic excuse for a human aka Richard Grissom Jr.
Even his adoptive parents admit he is a lost cause.
Wake up and smell the stench coming off of Grissom. Jeeeeeeeze!

[Debbie Song]

Please read and share with family, friends
www.federalwitness.info

[Anne Tyler]

The fact that Grissom refuses to give these parents at least the knowledge of where their daughters are to try to move beyond it is ample evidence if there weren't enough of what a horrible monster he is. I am familiar with the murder of the older lady when he was a juvenile because that is my hometown and I lived only a short distance away. Grissom has been trouble from the beginning and he's arrogant and cruel.
Anyway, this case came to mind because these girls bodies were never found yet he was convicted of their murder as he should have been. IMO there is ample evidence to convict Casey Anthony too, if the Grissom jury had been the one in the Anthony trial, Grissom would have walked, what a nightmare. BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT is what that jury overlooked. Unless you get video tape (and even then it can be altered) of someone doing a crime all you ever have is he said she said. there is a point where your brain has to be engaged. This jury apparently decided not to engage brain.

[Anne Tyler]

Stephanie Hill... Grissom is a con artist, extremely good at what he does, its how he got into a position to do what he did. He can talk almost anything out of gullible people. Its his JOB to figure out who can be "worked". He'll tell you lies that sound so good when he knows he is lying but the entire point is to milk everybody possible, never leave a stone unturned when there is one more person to add to the list of fools who believed in you.

[Anne Tyler]

@Claire - Its true then, there really IS a sucker born every minute. A sucker and a fool all in one.

[joseph]

I was locked up next to Richard Grissom Jr and he is moved around every 3 mounts for fear of him getting things he is not allowed around female staff.he is smart I give him tht he can con u out of a lot. If u dnt watch it

[Unknown]

I thinking might have knowledge of where those women are that he murdered! It terrifies me to even think about coming forward! I am 33 now but I was a little girl when this happened. Richard was friend and a co-worker of my now deceased brother. They did construction together and Richard came to my grandmothers house a few times. (He was very charming!)They were working on a residential swimming pool off of Gregory and 435(I believe). When the new hit of him being responsible for the disappearance of those women, my brother quit the job working on the pool! He had no idea that Richard was crazy and he believed that the women were under the concrete that was poured. This has hunted me for years and I have not known what to do with this info! The only thing I know about the client who's pool they poured was that he is an Iranian man and he had a son names Eric that I use to play with. According to my brother the man moved after the situation arose!

[-]

Unknown - please go to the police. These girls need to be found...

[G-Dog]

I won't mention the store or department in respect for those I'm talking about.

I worked at a grocery store at that time and a department managers daughter went out with him. She came home early because she said there was something weird about him.

He was good looking and a real gentlemen so she was excited when he asked her out. Then about 2-3 months later on the wall near customer service was his picture and a letter that stated WANTED for bad checks he'd written there.

Then a couple of weeks and he was arrested for murder. I'm sure glad I never met him because I heard he was a real charmer and I was really gullible and naive back then.

[Michelle]

I knew him, too. He dated my roommate (God thank you that she wasn't killed) and one day helped me move boxes from my car to our rental house. She was one of the witnesses as she figured out she knew a victim. After my roommate gave information, he actually called my mom's house and threatened my little brother.

[Mary]

I had a run-in with this man and was extremely fortunate. My husband and I lived in a basement apartment at Charter House, which is just across the street from the apartments where those poor women lived. It was late, 10:30 or 11, and I was watching tv.

There was a knock at the door, and I answered. A nice looking, well-dressed man was standing there. He told me he lived in the building, had just driven home from Oklahoma, and had left his apartment keys behind. He wanted to come in, and I refused, so then he asked me if I could give him $50 for a locksmith.

About that time, my husband, who had been sleeping in the bedroom, heard the talking and walked out saying what the heck is going on? Grissom's demeanor changed dramatically. I gave him $20 and told him that's all I have and good luck.

My husband was furious with me and told me that through the crack in the curtains, the guy figured out we were from Oklahoma and his story was BS. When I recognized Grissom from news reports, I felt extremely fortunate. $20 and my husband's presence saved me from unknown terror.

The guy is a psychopath and is incapable of feeling remorse or guilt. His ability to read people and charm them is eerie and dangerous. My heart still hurts for the lives he ended, changed and destroyed. I, for one, am thrilled he did not receive the death penalty and pray that he suffers and languishes in prison every day for what he did.

[kelly]

We are currently living in an apartment located in Lenexa, KS. We have been experiencing some paranormal type activity in our apartment. When we moved in a few days ago several neighbors came over and told us "good luck with the ghosts". I just called the office and she said that that guy who abducted those girls in Lenexa at their apartment complex was a maintenance man at our apartments. I looked up information and found these blog comments. Does anyone know information about the complex where these girls lived in Lenexa?

[Cindy]

It was Trafalgar Square at that time.

[cindy mitchell]

im currently reading a book called suddenly gone about this scum of the earth richard grissom it brings tears to my eyes and what gets me is he is setting back in a prison cell making money off of these books he should be made to tell these families where these women are at or be charged for haboring evidence

[Mike]

After hearing about the devastating murders of these poor women. I realized I had seen someone fitting his description in very strange places. I reported some info to the police, but never heard back from them. I still wonder and wake up at night sweating because I think I know where the bodies are buried. I asked a good friend why I keep having flashback dreams, he said maybe the girls spirits are looking for closure. I wish I knew how to help.