Darrell Keith Rich (February 14, 1955 – March 15, 2000),[1] known as The Hilltop Rapist, was an American serial killer who murdered three women and an 11-year-old girl in Redding, California between June and August 1978.

[2] He was sentenced to death in California in 1981 for two of the murders and was executed in 2000 at San Quentin State Prison by lethal injection.

As such, he was referred to the school psychologist, who was concerned that Rich could become violent in the future; however, he received no treatment.

[4] At age 17, Rich went hunting after a fight with his girlfriend and shot himself in the chest, attempting suicide.

A psychiatric evaluation determined Rich was suicidal and needed immediate treatment; however, he rejected offers for therapy.

On June 19, Rich abducted a 21-year-old woman, forced her into his car, and drove her to an isolated area where he raped her.

The second was 19-year-old Anette Fay Edwards, who was walking home from a firework display celebrating Independence Day when Rich abducted her.

[7] On August 6, Rich abducted Slavik from a bar and took her to the same dump where he had left Moore's body.

After showing Slavik the body, he raped her and then killed her by shooting her with a .22-caliber pistol as she begged for her life.

New information then came about that Rich had shown a friend a body at the same dump where Moore and Slavik had been found.

As detectives continued investigating Rich, they concluded he was lying when he denied involvement in the murders.

The two married in January 1981, but their marriage was annulled in August of the same year after Rich was found guilty of the murders.

To even the most hardened eye, the crimes were almost unimaginably brutal -- savage attacks on defenseless young women, all sexually ravaged.

Five other women, ranging in age from 14 to 25, managed to survive; four unhesitatingly identified Rich as their attacker.

"[8] Patricia's brother, Burton Adams, said he had only recently learned about the details of his sister's rape and murder and that Rich was getting off easy with a quick death.

"[18] Before his execution, Rich, who said he had reformed after discovering his Native American heritage, asked to be allowed to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony, saying it was necessary to purify his spirit.

Because the ceremony was supposed to require several hours and involved the use of a rake, hot rocks, and a shovel, the request was denied on the grounds of it being a security risk.