header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 29
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys


| Friday, Apr 5, 2019
Richard Donald Richards, now 69, stepped inside his cell at the California State Prison in Solano in May 1998 and began serving a sentence for second-degree murder and use of a firearm. He was found suitable for parole by the Board of Parole Hearings in a March 7, 2019 hearing. | Courtesy photo.
Richard Donald Richards, now 69, stepped inside his cell at the California State Prison in Solano in May 1998 and began serving a sentence for second-degree murder and use of a firearm. He was found suitable for parole by the Board of Parole Hearings in a March 7, 2019 hearing. | Courtesy photo.

 

When Dan Richards went searching for his biological father and found a murderer serving life in prison who was on the verge of being paroled, he alerted the murder victim’s family and friends about the parole decision and about his father’s pending release from prison.

Now the murderer’s son and a friend of the victim’s family who lived in Frazier Park, are sending letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging that he block the parole decision when the case lands on his desk in the next few months for final review.

“When I read about my father’s pending prison release I asked myself: ‘I wonder if the (murder victim’s) family knows about this crap?’” Dan Richards said this week, noting he plans to write a letter to Newsom urging the governor to keep his father behind bars.

The convicted murderer is Richard Donald Richards, 69.

Richards stepped inside his cell at the California State Prison in Solano on May 13, 1998, and began serving a life sentence — with the possibility of parole — for second-degree murder and use of a firearm.

Suitable for parole?
In a hearing March 7 at the prison, Richard Donald Richards was found suitable for parole by the Board of Parole Hearings, said Ike Dodson, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Since then, parole officials have been carrying out a 120-day review, analyzing legal details and factors leading to the decision to release him.

If the decision stands, the matter is then sent to office of the governor, who will have up to 30 days to review.

During this 30-day window of opportunity, Dan Richards and Cathleen Wright Templeman, formerly of Frazier Park, a close friend of the Clark family who now lives in Lakewood, hope to convince the governor to keep Richard Donald Richards in prison.

Templeman was in court shoulder-to-shoulder with Clark family members the day Richards was sentenced to life.

“Any parole decision granting parole goes up to the governor for review,” Templeman said this past week. “(Gov. Newsom) can still block his release.”

1997 Killing
Two decades ago, Curtis Clark lived on a sparse isolated homestead with his family in a house on top of a desolate mountain in Frazier Park, near Lebec.

He allowed his lifelong friend, Richard Donald Richards, of Castaic, to live there for a while.

“The Clarks lived a secluded life,” said Templeman. “They were not survivalists at all.

“It was Curt’s goal to live a ‘homestead’ self-sufficient life. They’re a very kind-hearted family and perhaps naive about Rick’s true character.”

Templeman, who said she’s known the Clark family since 1990, described “Curt” as “very easy-going and would have done anything for anyone.”

On Sunday, June 1, 1997, the two men got into an argument.

Several shots
Richards shot Clark multiple times in the torso and fled.

According to a sheriff’s deputy quoted by The Signal in 1997, Richards surrendered to Tulare County Sheriff’s Department deputies after he dumped Clark’s body about 6 a.m. Sunday, June 1, 1997, and then drove to Porterville, where he confessed.

Soon after the murder, the Richards family fled their home in Castaic and moved to Huntington Beach with the help of her boss, Templeman said.

The incident came flooding back to Templeman six months ago when news of another Clark family tragedy emerged in the SCV.

Christopher “Critter” Clark, 39, of Woodland Hills, went missing July 24, 2018.

Missing man
On Aug. 31, a car belonging to Chris Clark was found abandoned outside the Black Bear Diner.

It was the first indication as to Clark’s whereabouts since July 24, 2018, when Clark had contacted his family in Reseda. Since then, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound man, with a 1-inch scar on the back of his head, has not been seen.

“Why the car was there, we do not know,” Detective Maria Palmer with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit said in September, noting the car was impounded.

When Dan Richards, of Huntington Beach, searched online for any information about his biological father, he found him mentioned in The Signal story about the missing Chris Clark.

He then tracked his father to the prison in Solano.

Last week, he revisited the prison website for any updates and learned about his father’s parole hearing and his pending release from prison.

“As soon as I saw the update, I called the parole board,” Dan Richards said. “They told me they’re going to watch him for awhile.”

If approved, the parole decision is still upheld after 120 days of scrutiny, “It goes to the governor’s office for final approval.”

Opposing the parole
Dan Richards then reached out to the Clark family and to Templeman.While he begins writing his letter to the governor, Templeman is reviewing a draft of her letter already written.

Her letter states, in part:

“I am writing to oppose the parole and release of murderer Richard Donald Richards. Richards pleaded guilty in 1997 to second-degree murder and admitted to killing Lebec father of five and lifelong friend, Curtis Clark, by shooting him five times at close range. Mr. Clark was unarmed.

“Richards has never shown any remorse for his crime and had nothing to say to the family at his sentencing.

“The day before the killing, Clark asked Richards to leave the family home where he had been allowed to stay for two years.

“Richards was accused of physically assaulting Clark’s youngest daughter. Richards then drove up a winding, desolate, mountain dirt road to confront Clark at his residence.

“Clark answered the door and told Richards to leave his property. Richards then shot Clark.”

Continue to suffer
Templeman also tells the governor in her letter of how the Clark family continued to suffer.

“The family unit was shattered and disintegrated. Clark’s middle son, Christopher, went missing in the summer of 2018 and still has not been found,” she said.

She ends her letter, saying: “The Clark family is devastated at the prospect of Richards, a man who is capable of callously killing his best friend… being released into society.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
SCVNews.com