Richard E. Steeves (born February 1, 1942) is an American serial killer who murdered five men in a multi-state crime spree between June 1965 and January 1966.

He was tried and acquitted for these crimes by reason of insanity and was housed in a mental hospital until his eventual release into society.

[3] Steeves dropped out of school in eighth grade, and afterwards he began committing petty crimes which landed him in a reformatory.

[2] On June 13, 1965, five months after his release, Steeves attacked 83-year-old Harry Staples in North Berwick, Maine.

Staples was found clinging to life and was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated for two weeks in intensive care until he eventually died.

A trial started in New Hampshire, and Steeves admitted responsibility, though he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

After further research, the New Hampshire Supreme Court stopped the trial and automatically acquitted Steeves by reason of insanity.

In 1980, nurses and psychiatrists stated that Steeves was no longer a threat to society, and he was allowed to leave the hospital grounds without an escort.

[10] In April 1985, Steeves broke into the mobile home of 69-year-old gift shop owner Russell F. Bailey in Wells.

[11] The following month, witnesses came forward with information that they saw Steeves' pickup truck parked in front of Bailey's driveway the day of the murder.

At the same time, Maine authorities also decided to prosecute him for the 1965 murder of Harold Staples, who was known to have been Steeves' first victim for decades, but up to that point he had not been charged with the killing.

[13] While awaiting trial, Steeves had to be moved from the York County Jail to the Maine State Prison for his own protection, after he had failed to commit suicide two times.