James Ruzicka

Other details

James Ruzicka was described as a “sexual psychopath”.

James Edward Ruzicka was in and out of juvenile facilities and prisons from the age of nine.

James Ruzicka was described as the product of an abusive home.

James Ruzicka’s problem with drugs was described as being compounded by abuse of LSD, cocaine, mescaline and heroin.

James Ruzicka first practiced bestiality as a child, soon progressing to the molestation of young girls.

The offence

In 1973, at age 23, James Ruzicka was convicted of raping two Washington women at knifepoint.

After his escape from Western State Hospital, James Ruzicka murdered two girls in Seattle.

Nancy Kinghammer, 16, and Penny Haddenham, 14, were both abducted from their homes by night.

Penny Haddenham’s corpse was recovered first. Investigators found Penny Haddenham hanging from a tree, just off the West Seattle Expressway. An autopsy determined that Penny Haddenham had been raped, then strangled, before her body was strung up.

Nancy Kinghammer surfaced a month later. Her half-naked body was concealed beneath trash in a vacant lot used as a dumping ground. Some towels were wrapped around Nancy Kinghammer’s decomposing corpse. A knife was found near the scene.

The knife and towels were traced by homicide detectives to the home of James Ruzicka’s ex-wife.

James Ruzicka was also arrested in Beaverton, Oregon, after raping a 13-year-old girl.

James Ruzicka later confessed to the murders in Washington.

Investigation

Investigators traced some towels wrapped around Nancy Kinghammer’s decomposing corpse, together with a knife found near the scene, to the home of James Ruzicka’s ex-wife.

Arrest

James Ruzicka was arrested in Beaverton, Oregon, for the brutal rape of a 13-year-old girl.

Background

James Ruzicka was convicted in 1973 of raping two Washington women at knifepoint.

He was pronounced a sexual psychopath by the court.

James Ruzicka received a ten-year prison sentence, suspended on condition that he join a sex-offender rehabilitation program at Western State Hospital, near Tacoma.

After receiving the suspended sentence, James Ruzicka escaped prison time and advanced to the position of trusty, escorting other patients to their work stations outside the hospital’s maximum-security wing.

Administrators thought enough of James Ruzicka to grant him a 48-hour furlough, from which he never returned.

Making tracks for Seattle, James Ruzicka moved in with his ex-wife and her new husband, living rent-free for a time before striking off on his own.

Arrest (Oregon)

In Oregon, James Ruzicka was arrested after raping a 13-year-old girl.

James Ruzicka told police:

"I asked her if she wanted to ball," he told police, "and she didn't say 'no,' so I figured she wouldn't mind."

Trial

James Ruzicka was extradited for trial after confessing to the murders in Washington.

James Ruzicka was convicted on all counts.

Sentencing

James Ruzicka received two consecutive life terms.

The two consecutive life terms were to be served following completion of his Oregon sentence.

James Ruzicka was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in 1974.

Outcome

Authorities in Oregon reportedly ordered a series of hormone injections for James Ruzicka, designed to reduce his libido.

Timeline

• 1973 — At age 23, James Ruzicka was convicted of raping two Washington women at knifepoint and was pronounced a sexual psychopath by the court; he received a ten-year prison sentence, suspended on condition that he join a sex-offender rehabilitation program at Western State Hospital near Tacoma.
• 1974 — James Ruzicka was sentenced to two consecutive life terms; the terms were to be served following completion of his Oregon sentence.