The Dark Legacy of the Jersey Shore “Thrill Killer” Forty Years Later

In the Early 1980s, A Disturbed Man Named Richard Biegenwald Committed A Series of Grisly Murders That Shocked New Jersey

This article originally appeared on the true crime newsletter Tales From the Underworld. Subscribe for new and exclusive historical true crime content.

Depiction of Richard Biegenwald (Image generated via Midjourney)

Background

In the early 1980s, the Jersey Shore was gripped by terror as a notorious figure emerged, earning the chilling moniker of the “Thrill Killer.” Richard Biegenwald’s reign of violence left a trail of fear and death. However, one must delve into his tumultuous past to truly understand the man behind these heinous crimes. Biegenwald’s troubled childhood, marred by abuse from his alcoholic father, set the stage for a life filled with criminal activities. From arson and theft at a young age to a string of murders that would haunt the region, this article delves into the dark origins of the “Thrill Killer” and the horrors he unleashed.

Early Life: A Portrait of Turmoil

Richard Biegenwald, born in 1940 in Staten Island, New York, faced a life of…