by David DeKok
8 - “arrange for publication of a news story”: US District Judge E. Mac Troutman, Memorandum, Richard Haefner v. City of Lancaster, Civ. A. No. 83-604, USDCEDP, June 22, 1983.
9 - “The subsequent police report”: “Offense Report #A98257-2406, Lancaster Bureau of Police,” February 6, 1981. Obtained from the Lancaster police through a Pennsylvania Open Records Act request. Most of the details about Haefner’s arrest come from this report.
10 - “more than forty-two billable hours”: Civil Action Complaint, Sprague, Higgins & Creamer v. Dr. Richard Haefner, Case # 870301281, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, March 5, 1987.
11 - “He was persistent and unrelenting”: Ernest Schreiber, interview by the author, June 3, 2013.
Chapter 33: Suing His Own Lawyer
1 - “for a total of $95,097.67”: The varying amounts that Rick Haefner owed to Richard A. Sprague and his law firm for legal fees were spelled out in a lawsuit that the firm, under its then name, filed in 1987, Sprague, Higgins & Creamer v. Dr. Richard Haefner, Civil case #870301281, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County. Kenneth Richmond, who represented Haefner in his lawsuit against Sprague, believed that Sprague’s undiscounted fees would have been two to three times that amount.
2 - “filed a pro se lawsuit”: The full title of the lawsuit became Richard Haefner v. Richard A. Sprague, Edward H. Rubenstone, Sprague and Rubenstone, a Partnership, Jack L.Gruenstein, Michael Minkin & Julia T. Barsel. It was usually abbreviated as Haefner v. Sprague, et al.
3 - “succumbing to a heart attack”: “Heart Attack Causes Motorist’s Death,” IJ, December 30, 1983.
4 - “appeared in Hill’s chambers”: Judge Louis A. Hill, Opinion, December 21, 1988, Haefner v. Sprague, 23; maintain a thin veneer of civility: Judge Gene E. K. Pratter has an online pamphlet, “General Trial and Pretrial Procedures,” which contains a chapter on “Professionalism and Civility” that could have been written in response to Rick Haefner’s behavior. She pointedly notes that her rules also apply to pro se litigants, not just to members of the Bar. See www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/procedures/prapol2.pdf, accessed June 7, 2013.
5 - “Haefner harassed Pratter”: Op. cit., Hill Opinion, 27–28; “a manipulative individual”: Ibid, 29–30.
6 - “some of Rick’s more menacing behavior”: Op. cit., Hill Opinion, 40–41; “explosive, unpredictable, and impulsive”: Ibid.
7 - “subpoena the personnel file”: Notes of Susan Abele, January 28, 1988. Obtained from the Lancaster Recreation Commission under the Pennsylvania Open Records Act; “no influence on this case”: Ibid.
8 - “a hearing on his request be held”: Letter, Dr. Richard Haefner to City of Lancaster and Lancaster Recreation Commission, dated April 23, 1988, hand-delivered April 25, 1988, LRC-RTK; He appeared at the office: Notes of Susan Abele, April 28, 1988, LRC-RTK; Rick demanded a response: Ibid.
9 - “offered another lawyer a $10,000 retainer”: Op. cit., Hill Opinion, 26; “material misrepresentations”: Ibid.
10 - “I have to have an attorney”: Kenneth Richmond, interview by the author, June 10, 2013. All of the information about Richmond’s role in Haefner v. Sprague comes from this interview.
11 - “in huge, illicit drug transactions”: Op. cit., Richmond interview; one emerald could equal: Kenneth W. Richmond, interview by the author, June 15, 2013.
12 - “You could see his eyes light up”: Op. cit., Richmond interview.
13 - “a deputy sheriff would remove him”: Op. cit., Hill Opinion, 34.
14 - “sent a coldly worded letter”: Letter, Dr. Richard Haefner to Lancaster Recreation Commission, October 19, 1989, LRC-RTK, Lancaster Recreation Commission; LeFever stood firm: Letter, Donald E. LeFever to Susan E. Abele, November 2, 1989, LRC-RTK.
15 - “issue a writ of mandamus”: Action in Mandamus, Richard Haefner v. City of Lancaster, Pa., School District of Lancaster, Pa., Lancaster Recreation Commission, May 11, 1990, LRC-RTK; if he had done anything wrong: Bomberger, 4.
Chapter 34: Thinking about Ted Bundy
1 - “whether Bundy might have killed Betsy Aardsma”: GHK, January 4, 2011.
2 - “supposedly was a student at Penn State University”: Ann Rule, The Stranger Beside Me (New York: W. W. Norton, 1980), 27; Ann Rule had erred: GHK interview, October 10, 2011.
3 - impossible task: Rule, 375–76; “He would say he was going one place”: Ibid.
4 - “a “Pennsylvania homicide detective”: 375–76; was less friendly: GHK, June 12, 2012.
5 - “Bundy fit the description”: GHK interview, April 15, 2011; “He’s five foot, eleven”: GHK, April 15, 2011; “He’s dressed better than a student”: GHK interview, July 23, 2012.
6 - “Bundy’s pornography addiction was the key”: Ibid; she knew Bundy liked porn: GHK, June 12, 2012; observed a lot of porn: GHK interview, January 4, 2011.
7 - “shipped to Troop G headquarters”: GHK, April 15, 2011; “For a month I’m after them”: Ibid.
8 - “would not let him go to Florida”: GHK, June 12, 2012; “That is a tragedy”: GHK, July 23, 2012; could not prove his involvement: GHK, June 8, 2012.
9 - “you have to have someone sitting on top of it”: GHK, January 4, 2011; “Well, make up your mind”: GHK, October 10, 2011.
10 - “No decision was ever made”: Ibid.
11 - “on a bus trip”: GHK, April 15, 2011; pornography put the Devil in his head: GHK, January 4, 2011.
12 - “didn’t even find out about her death”: Kliphuis interview, March 22, 2012.
Chapter 35: A Life Destroyed
1 - “Rick would sit in the car”: CLH interview, June 10, 2013.
2 - “claimed to have “an intimate relationship”: Richard C. Haefner, “Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment,” Dr. Richard Haefner v. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, et al., November 12, 1996, USDCEDP, Civil 94-3366; who was nine years old: Chincoteague (VA) Police Department, Report on the Detention of Bruce D., a Juvenile, May 28, 1992; A single welfare mother: Summary of intake interview, December 3, 1992, courtesy of Kenneth Richmond, attorney; was deformed by spina bifida: Kenneth Richmond interview, June 10, 2013; had a Valium dependency problem: Transcript of custody hearing for Bruce J., CPCLC, June 2, 1992, 7; at a nearby coffee shop: Op. cit., Intake Summary; “But he’s a bastard, too”: Ibid.
3 - “little pussy Bruce”: Affidavit of Richard Haefner, November 13, 1989, Richard Haefner v. James Burkey, et al., CPCLC, 1399 of 1984; warn her about Haefner’s true nature: Amended Complaint, Dr. Richard Haefner, PhD, v. County of Lancaster, et al., USDCEDP, December 7, 1994, Civil Action 94-3366.
4 - “who had attention deficit disorder”: Dr. Richard Haefner, Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment, November 12, 1996, Dr. Richard Haefner v. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, et al. (CV 94-3366); was going to be arrested: Complaint, January 17, 1992, Dr. Richard Haefner v. Monica Steward and Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, CPCLC; just five-foot-two: Chincoteague (VA) Police Department Daily Log, May 28, 1992.
5 - “accused him of assaulting the staff”: Op. cit., Haefner v. Steward, et al., 4.
6 - “good, true, honest, and virtuous”: Haefner v. Steward, et al.
7 - “stayed “with friends”: Affidavit of Bruce J., December 10, 1996, Richard Haefner, PhD, v. County of Lancaster, et al., US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Case # 94-3366; “helped raise me as a father would”: Ibid.
8 - “did not report him missing until May 16”: “City Man Charged with Taking Teen to Virginia,” IJ, May 30, 1992; “I wanted to help him to criticize the police”: Op. cit., Bruce J. Affidavit; drove Bruce to Ocean City: Transcript of Chincoteague, VA, police interview, May 28, 1992.
9 - “several times before”: Jeff Hawkes, “City Geologist Cleared in Child Custody Case,” IJ, July 28, 1992; Dimm . . . phoned the Ch
incoteague police: Chincoteague Police Department Daily Log, May 28, 1992.
10 - “Bruce, keep your mouth shut!”: Report of Chincoteague, VA, Police Department, May 28, 1992; did not want Bruce released to Rick’s custody: Deposition of Willis Dize, chief of police of Chincoteague, VA, December 9, 1995, Richard Haefner, PhD, v. County of Lancaster, et al., USDCEDP, Case # 94-3366; and, in fact, wanted Haefner arrested: Judge Franklin S. Van Antwerpen, Memorandum and Order, July 25, 1997, Case #3366.
11 - “he will sue you, too”: Op. cit., Dize Deposition; found a large collection of pornography: Ibid.
12 - “removing Bruce from his mother’s custody”: Order of Judge Wilson Bucher, June 2, 1992, CPCLC; to prevent Rick from taking him: Letter, Richard Haefner to Kenneth W. Richmond, March 11, 1993. Courtesy of Attorney Kenneth W. Richmond; she had been “relieved”: Jeff Hawkes, “City Geologist Cleared in Child Sex Case,” IJ, July 28, 1992; went in a panic to the YWCA: Op. cit, Van Antwerpen Memorandum and Order, July 25, 1997.
13 - “filed a petition . . . to adopt him”: Plaintiff’s Notice Regarding Adoption, May 29, 1997, Civil Action 94-3366.
Chapter 36: Neighborhood Menace
1 - Haefner’s vandalism incident of June 30, 1994, is described at length in Judge Lawrence Stengel’s opinion in the witness retaliation case, as well as in the police paperwork from Haefner’s arrest.
2 - “he had another seizure”: Joe Byrne, “Two Face Charges after Medics, Police Sprayed with Tear Gas,” The New Era, Lancaster, PA, October 6, 1994; ran home and called 911: Officer Christopher DePatto, Offense Report, October 5, 1994, Lancaster (PA) Bureau of Police; “Get the fuck out of my fucking house”: Ibid.
3 - “he sprayed them with Mace”: Op. cit., Joe Byrne; emptied it back at George and Rick: Op. cit., Offense Report; told that George might have a rifle: Officer Michael S. Corso, Supplementary Report, October 5, 1994, Bureau of Police, Lancaster, PA; “You’re not getting anyone”: Ibid; abruptly pushed the officer: Ibid.
4 - “continued to behave like a wild man”: Officer Timothy F. Goodson, Supplementary Report, October 5, 1994; “I’m in jail again”: Op. cit., Corso; “You’re the Gestapo”: Op. cit., DePatto.
5 - “as a sort of homespun Dr. Geology”: Jennifer Danner, “Pan for Gold in Gemboree,” The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA, August 11, 1991.
6 - “did not want the guards in the building overnight”: Lester F. Rittle deposition, October 16, 1997, Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Richard C. Haefner, et al., US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, CV-98-0052; Haefner claimed that was Rittle’s rule: Richard C. Haefner deposition, October 16, 1997, Cincinnati Insurance v. Haefner; didn’t have keys: North Cornwall Township Police official report on burglary and theft at the Lost Dutchman Gemboree, August 19, 1996; out with Rick having dinner: Ibid.
7 - “one collapsed upon discovering his losses”: Andrew L. Price Deposition, October 16, 1997, Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Haefner, et al.; lost more than $275,000: Letter, Gems & Jewelry Palace to FBI, Harrisburg, PA, August 28, 1996, FBI FOIA 115-5959712; always had good security: David DeKok, “$1.5 Million in Gems Stolen at Mineral Show,” August 19, 1996, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA. The $1.5 million loss figure came from one of the exhibitors. Police later revised it downward to $898,000.
8 - “had a criminal record in New York”: FBI report, August 26, 1996. FBI FOIA request # 115-5959712.
9 - “Rick owed George about $30,000”: Op. cit., FBI report, August 26, 1996; He became agitated: FBI report, November 18, 1996, FBI FOIA request #115-5959712.
10 - “Colombian gem gangs stalked shows like his”: Incident memo, August 18, 1996, North Cornwall Police Department. FBI FOIA request #115-5959712; deemed him “uncooperative”: FBI memo, November 8, 1996, FBI FOIA request #115-5959712; not his fault: FBI report, September 4, 1996, FBI FOIA request #1155959712; tried to stop jewelers from calling the police: Tom Bowman, “Troopers Were Kept from Gem Probe,” The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA, August 20, 1996; no more leads, and no suspects: FBI memo, September 25, 1997, FBI FOIA request #115-5959712.
11 - “They just never got along”: Keith Haefner, interview by the author, September 10, 2010.
12 - “accused him of cheating many people”: Affidavit of Richard Haefner, April 1, 1999, Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Richard C. Haefner, et al.
13 - “Haefner was off his meds”: Transcript of trial (May 27, 1998), State of Delaware v. Richard Haefner, 177; two well-known symptoms: Dr. Peter Breggin, “Long-Standing Concerns about SSRI Withdrawal Effects,” Psychiatric Drug Facts with Dr. Peter Breggin (http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76), accessed June 19, 2013; dosage was too high: Op. cit., Transcript of trial (May 27, 1998), 182–83.
14 - “was an executive in the plastics industry”: Peter A. Schuyler, interview by the author, June 20, 2013.
15 - “saw the cart start to roll”: Delaware State Police, January 16, 1998, Haefner Supplemental Incident Report, 2; Dudley was shaking: Ibid; take the dog to her own veterinarian: Ibid.
16 - “They lifted Dudley from the cart”: Op. cit., Haefner Supplemental Report, 2; intending to write down his license plate number: Affidavit of Catherine R. Schuyler, June 6, 2000, Dr. Richard Haefner v. Catherine Schuyler, Civil Action 00-393-RRM, US District Court for the District of Delaware.
17 - “drag her out of the vehicle”: Haefner Supplemental Incident Report, 3; try to slam her head: Ibid, 5; punch her in the face: Ibid, 3.
18 - “received three stitches”: Ibid, 3; she would lose thirty-two pounds: Restitution Order, State of Delaware v. Richard C. Haefner; cost nearly $45,000: Schuyler interview, June 20, 2013.
19 - “absolutely incredible”: Op. cit. Transcript of Delaware Trial (May 27, 1998), 163.
20 - “have the doctor slowly take me off that medication”: Op. cit., Transcript of Delaware trial, 180–81.
21 - “That scares me to death”: Ibid; proposed a quick, $10,000 settlement: Schuyler interview, June 20, 2013; was stalking their house: Ibid; beaten up another woman: Ibid. Peter Schuyler could provide no details of this incident, and it does not show up in the Clark County, Nevada, criminal database. But if charges were dropped, it might well have been excluded; suddenly realized she was vulnerable: Op. cit., Schuyler.
22 - “Dr. Haefner should be aware”: Judge Roderick R. McElvie, Memorandum Opinion, October 11, 2001, Dr. Richard Haefner v. Catherine Schuyler, US District Court for the District of Delaware, Case # 00-393-RRM.
23 - “so scared and intimidated by Mr. Haefner”: Affidavit of Lisa A. Snyder, November 4, 1988, Richard Haefner v. Lebanon Valley Exposition Corp., et al.
Chapter 37: A Hole in the Desert
1 - “He had spoken about California”: Bise interview, December 6, 2010; “You can blend in here”: Pattie Cullison, interview by the author, September 30, 2010.
2 - “and how he thought Rick did it”: Dan Stephens interview, June 21, 2012.
3 - “wanted to share what he had with others”: Kathy Nixon, interview by the author, September 20, 2010.
4 - “Nixon remembered Dudley”: Op. cit., Nixon interview; also remembered Dudley: Bennie Troxel, interview by the author, October 7, 2010; brought Dudley with him once: Fred Bachhuber, interview by the author September 30, 2010.
5 - “He was more a technician than a real geologist”: Bachhuber interview, September 30, 2010.
6 - “The department chairman said no”: Bachhuber interview, September 30, 2010.
7 - “Paul Watkins . . . was Tecopa’s unofficial mayor”: Cullison interview, September 30, 2010; Las Vegas mobsters: Ibid.
8 - “came to a verbal contract”: Affidavit of Richard Haefner, January 7, 2000, Richard Haefner v. Clifford W. Parmeter and Marjorie E. Parmeter, Superior Court of California, Inyo County, Civil Action #24208. Dana Crom, the Parmeter lawyer, said oral agreements can be legal and enforceable in California re
al estate transactions, and that no lawyer is required for it to be so; make a down payment of $5,000: Purchase agreement for Parmeter property, May 9, 1997, Haefner v. Parmeters.
9 - “It is a sin how some people”: Letter, Cliff and Marge Parmeter to Richard Haefner, November 12, 1997.
10 - “he renogotiated the deal with the Parmeters”: Cross Complaint, February 11, 2000, Clifford W. Parmeter and Marjorie E. Parmeter v. Richard Haefner; But Rick’s promises this time: Ibid.
11 - “called him a “con artist”: Letter, Richard Haefner to Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Parmeter, December 28, 1998.
12 - “Rick could pay neither principal nor interest”: Letter, Clifford W. Parmeter to Kirk K. Livermont, November 16, 1999; he planned to evict Rick: Thirty Day Termination Notice, Clifford W. Parmeter to Richard Haefner, November 16, 1999; won a temporary restraining order: Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or For Rule to Show Cause, Haefner v. Parmeter, February 1, 2000; had apparently resigned because he wasn’t getting paid: Dana Crom, interview by the author, September 30, 2010. Livermont declined to answer questions about the case when the author knocked on the door at his home in Independence, California. Some lawyers will never talk about their past clients, and he is one of them.
13 - “He began screaming at her”: Ibid; I know he scared my clients: Op. cit., Crom interview, September 30, 2010.
14 - “I was shaking like a leaf”: Op. cit., Crom; then just explode: Ibid.
15 - “I should have known something was going on”: Troxel interview, October 7, 2010.
16 - “thought he had indigestion”: Nixon interview, September 20, 2010; the cremains aren’t there: CLH, August 23, 2010.
Chapter 38: The Road to Rick Haefner
1 - “until Bernier did so in the late 2000s”: GHK, January 4, 2011.