Richard Macek

Case record: Richard Macek

Identity

Richard Macek was a native of McHenry, Illinois.

Timeline

• 1974 — In Fontana, Wisconsin, Macek cornered Paula Cupit, a 24-year-old hotel maid, in one of the rooms she was assigned to clean.
• 1974 — Macek beat and stabbed Paula Cupit in the heart, then gnawed and mutilated her body.
• 1974 — Two months later, in Wauwatosa, Macek raped another maid; the victim survived to offer police a description of her assailant.
• 1974 — Macek shifted back to Illinois and murdered Nancy Lossman, 26, and her three-year-old daughter, Lisa, at Crystal Lake before the end of the year.
• July 1975 — Macek invaded a Woodstock laundromat, battering a 20-year-old woman and leaving her for dead.
• December 5 — Macek was traced to San Bernadino, California, and was arrested; he was charged with the Wauwatosa rape and held in lieu of $175,000 bond.
• After arrest — While in custody, Macek signed confessions to the Fontana and Wauwatosa attacks.
• April 1976 — Macek was committed to Wisconsin's Central State Hospital for an indefinite term under provisions of the state's sex deviate statutes.
• Six months later (1976) — In Illinois, Macek drew a term of 50 to 70 years for attempted murder at Woodstock.
• February 22, 1977 — Macek pled guilty to Paula Cupit's murder in Wisconsin and received a life term from Judge Robert Gollmar.
• September 1980 — Macek was sentenced to 30 years for the Wauwatosa rape.
• September 1980 (same period) — Macek’s Illinois conviction of double homicide earned him another sentence of 200 to 400 years in prison.
• March 2, 1987 — Macek was found dead in his prison cell, hanging from an air vent with a pair of shoestrings looped around his neck; the death was ruled a suicide.

The offence

Richard Macek launched a two-state murder spree in 1974.

• In Fontana, Wisconsin, Macek attacked Paula Cupit, a 24-year-old hotel maid assigned to clean a room where he cornered her. He beat her and stabbed her in the heart, then began to gnaw and mutilate her body.
• In Wauwatosa, Macek raped another maid. The second victim survived and offered police a description of her assailant.
• In Illinois, Macek murdered Nancy Lossman, 26, and her three-year-old daughter, Lisa, at Crystal Lake.
• In July 1975, Macek invaded a Woodstock laundromat, battering a 20-year-old woman and leaving her for dead.

Investigation and arrest

Macek was traced to San Bernadino, California, and was arrested on December 5. He was charged with the Wauwatosa rape and held in lieu of $175,000 bond. While in custody, he signed confessions to the Fontana and Wauwatosa attacks.

Commitment and sentencing

• In April 1976, Macek was committed to Wisconsin's Central State Hospital for an indefinite term under provisions of the state's sex deviate statutes.
• Six months later, in Illinois, he drew a term of 50 to 70 years for attempted murder at Woodstock.
• On February 22, 1977, Macek pled guilty to Paula Cupit’s murder in Wisconsin. Judge Robert Gollmar sentenced him to a life term. The Judge Robert Gollmar also handled the case of Ed Gein.
• In September 1980, Macek was sentenced to 30 years for the Wauwatosa rape.
• In September 1980, his conviction of double homicide in Illinois earned him another sentence of 200 to 400 years in prison.

Outcome and death

Depressed by the prospect of perpetual confinement, Macek opted for a shortcut. On March 2, 1987, he was found dead in his prison cell, hanging from an air vent with a pair of shoestrings looped around his neck. The death was ruled a suicide.

Other details

• Age at the start of the spree: 26 years old in 1974.
• Victim count: Three.
• Modus operandi summary: Rape-slayer and mutilator of females age three to 26.
• Disposition summary: Indefinite sentence to Wisconsin asylum as deranged sex offender in 1976; 50-75 years in Illinois on one count in 1976; Wisconsin life term on guilty plea to one count in 1977; 30 years for rape in Wisconsin and 200-400 years for two Illinois murder counts in 1980.