Richard Church & Tony Alamo - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

DarkDante · 03-12-2010, 03:48 AM

This may have been reported already but I was just watching the AMW version of this case and they included some very interesting information about Richard Church that UM didn't have time to detail in their update.

For those of you who don't remember the case (which is featured on the "Bizarre Murders" UM DVD set), Richard Church was a college student from Woodstock, Illinois who was involved in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend Colleen Ritter. Upon returning home from college during the summer of his freshman year, Church was dismayed to find out that not only were his parents divorcing but that Colleen wanted to end their relationship.

A few months later, after Colleen had turned down his advances for one last night together, Church broke into her house in the middle of the night and murdered her parents Ray and Ruth Ann Ritter as well as stabbing Colleen several times about the head. He then fled Woodstock, Illinois and remained on the run for four years.

Upon his capture in 1991, Church relayed to the authorities how he was able to elude capture which AMW then detailed to it's viewers. Apparently after he fled Woodstock, Church headed west until he hit Venice Beach, California. After around two weeks of living it up at a local hotel, Church was broke and not having anywhere else to turn sought refuge from a religious mission run by "God's Man" himself Tony Alamo.

Much like the other people in Alamo's religious foundation/cult, Church spent most of his days manufacturing Alamo's tricked out jackets. One day Tony Alamo spotted a WANTED flyer with Richard Church's face splashed across it. Instead of turning Church in however, Alamo informed him that he was "a member of his family and we accept you and will do what we can to help you". Alamo relocated Church from California to the foundation's headquarters in Alma, Arkansas. There Church could continue to work for Alamo while in virtual seclusion from the rest of the world.

In a strange twist of irony it is conceivable that Church might still be in hiding to this day if the FBI hadn't shown up four months after his arrival at the compound looking for Tony Alamo who was wanted for tax evasion. With the authorities none the wiser as to his identity Church fled to New York City where he again found himself in trouble with the law due to the fact he was involved with another cult member who was embattled in heated child custody dispute. Upon questioning Church provided false identification to the authorities and was released.

He then returned to Arkansas reconnecting with members of Alamo's cult. After the compound in Arkansas was shut down, the group moved from city to city in nomad like fashion still doing work for Alamo. However once Alamo was arrested his group of followers became extremely fragmented and Church found himself alone once again in Salt Lake City, Utah. To support himself he got a job at a local fast food restaurant and promoted himself as a born again Christian. On November 19, 1991, Church was spotted at the restaurant by a Salt Lake City detective who recognized him from a WANTED poster. The following day Church was arrested. You know the rest...

WishfulDreamer · 03-13-2010, 01:00 AM

Really? I never knew about any of this! How intriguing. It kind of creeps me out to think of Church being in Venice (which is not far from me) even if it was several years ago. But I never would have thought of such a connection. Good thing both men are behind bars now. Thanks for the info.

Another obvious irony: Church being his last name, looking at his crimes and where he found refuge. Strange.

crystaldawn · 03-13-2010, 07:39 PM

Wow that really is an amazing story Dante. I always find it fascinating when UM segments intersect like when Dan Caselaro was going to share with research with Don Devereaux right before he was murdered.

Too bad Alamo and Church can't share the same jail cell...

ididn'tdoit · 03-13-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Wow that really is an amazing story Dante. I always find it fascinating when UM segments intersect like when Dan Caselaro was going to share with research with Don Devereaux right before he was murdered.

Too bad Alamo and Church can't share the same jail cell...

"Tony and Rick sing Prison Blues"

mozartpc27 · 03-18-2010, 11:59 AM

Outside of the 7-11 across the street from my office, I was handed a newsletter from Tony Alamo's congregation, with all kinds of writings by Tony Alamo. This happened less than 3 weeks ago. Even though he is in jail for child molestation.

What I want to know is: what kind of a person hands out promotional material from a person purporting to be a man of Christ who is in jail for CHILD MOLESTATION?

DarkDante · 03-18-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mozartpc27

Outside of the 7-11 across the street from my office, I was handed a newsletter from Tony Alamo's congregation, with all kinds of writings by Tony Alamo. This happened less than 3 weeks ago. Even though he is in jail for child molestation.

What I want to know is: what kind of a person hands out promotional material from a person purporting to be a man of Christ who is in jail for CHILD MOLESTATION?

I don't know but around two years ago I found some Alamo propaganda outside my 7-11 as well. They must stake those places out eh?

LOL I took the Alamo newsletter home and promptly mailed it off to CrystalDawn the following day. Another addition to her memorabilia collection.

crystaldawn · 03-19-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

LOL I took the Alamo newsletter home and promptly mailed it off to CrystalDawn the following day. Another addition to her memorabilia collection.

Still have it of course....one of my most prized possessions.

SitcomsAreTheWay · 03-22-2010, 09:49 PM

Damn, those details regarding the Tony and Rick connection are something.

Speaking of Tony, every time I watch his segment, I always find myself fast forwarding past that noise he considered a musical masterpiece.

"What can I saaaay to yoooou bonitaaaaa"

Ugh.

crystaldawn · 03-22-2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsAreTheWay

Speaking of Tony, every time I watch his segment, I always find myself fast forwarding past that noise he considered a musical masterpiece.

"What can I saaaay to yoooou bonitaaaaa"

Ugh.

SitcomsAreTheWay · 03-24-2010, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Yep, it's THAT horrible.

kadrmas15 · 03-25-2010, 03:13 AM

Hey I actually thought it was a pretty good song...

kadrmas15 · 03-25-2010, 03:16 AM

The above was meant to be a joke. Sounds like something an out of work 1970's era porn star would sing.

biscuitgirl · 03-25-2010, 01:27 PM

How ironic. Thanks for sharing!

Corky Kneivel · 03-25-2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsAreTheWay

Damn, those details regarding the Tony and Rick connection are something.

Speaking of Tony, every time I watch his segment, I always find myself fast forwarding past that noise he considered a musical masterpiece.

"What can I saaaay to yoooou bonitaaaaa"

Ugh.

It actually scares me. I don't know what it is, but I find it so creepy.

Smokescreen · 05-15-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Church was broke and not having anywhere else to turn sought refuge from a religious mission run by "God's Man" himself Tony Alamo.

FLABBERGASTED!!!

Now it's info like that which made me sign up for this forum in the first place!

Quote:

What I want to know is: what kind of a person hands out promotional material from a person purporting to be a man of Christ who is in jail for CHILD MOLESTATION?

More'n likely people who can't and won't accept reality

I'd like to find out where to find one of Tony Alamo's albums and buy it, so I can fully experience life imitating art imitating crap

03-12-2010, 03:48 AM	#1
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	Richard Church & Tony Alamo This may have been reported already but I was just watching the AMW version of this case and they included some very interesting information about Richard Church that UM didn't have time to detail in their update. For those of you who don't remember the case (which is featured on the "Bizarre Murders" UM DVD set), Richard Church was a college student from Woodstock, Illinois who was involved in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend Colleen Ritter. Upon returning home from college during the summer of his freshman year, Church was dismayed to find out that not only were his parents divorcing but that Colleen wanted to end their relationship. A few months later, after Colleen had turned down his advances for one last night together, Church broke into her house in the middle of the night and murdered her parents Ray and Ruth Ann Ritter as well as stabbing Colleen several times about the head. He then fled Woodstock, Illinois and remained on the run for four years. Upon his capture in 1991, Church relayed to the authorities how he was able to elude capture which AMW then detailed to it's viewers. Apparently after he fled Woodstock, Church headed west until he hit Venice Beach, California. After around two weeks of living it up at a local hotel, Church was broke and not having anywhere else to turn sought refuge from a religious mission run by "God's Man" himself Tony Alamo. Much like the other people in Alamo's religious foundation/cult, Church spent most of his days manufacturing Alamo's tricked out jackets. One day Tony Alamo spotted a WANTED flyer with Richard Church's face splashed across it. Instead of turning Church in however, Alamo informed him that he was "a member of his family and we accept you and will do what we can to help you". Alamo relocated Church from California to the foundation's headquarters in Alma, Arkansas. There Church could continue to work for Alamo while in virtual seclusion from the rest of the world. In a strange twist of irony it is conceivable that Church might still be in hiding to this day if the FBI hadn't shown up four months after his arrival at the compound looking for Tony Alamo who was wanted for tax evasion. With the authorities none the wiser as to his identity Church fled to New York City where he again found himself in trouble with the law due to the fact he was involved with another cult member who was embattled in heated child custody dispute. Upon questioning Church provided false identification to the authorities and was released. He then returned to Arkansas reconnecting with members of Alamo's cult. After the compound in Arkansas was shut down, the group moved from city to city in nomad like fashion still doing work for Alamo. However once Alamo was arrested his group of followers became extremely fragmented and Church found himself alone once again in Salt Lake City, Utah. To support himself he got a job at a local fast food restaurant and promoted himself as a born again Christian. On November 19, 1991, Church was spotted at the restaurant by a Salt Lake City detective who recognized him from a WANTED poster. The following day Church was arrested. You know the rest...

03-18-2010, 11:59 AM	#5
mozartpc27 Vigilante Logician Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 925	Outside of the 7-11 across the street from my office, I was handed a newsletter from Tony Alamo's congregation, with all kinds of writings by Tony Alamo. This happened less than 3 weeks ago. Even though he is in jail for child molestation. What I want to know is: what kind of a person hands out promotional material from a person purporting to be a man of Christ who is in jail for CHILD MOLESTATION?
	__________________ "You can't say the words that the rock makes you feel like." - Patty Johnson

03-13-2010, 01:00 AM	#2
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	Really? I never knew about any of this! How intriguing. It kind of creeps me out to think of Church being in Venice (which is not far from me) even if it was several years ago. But I never would have thought of such a connection. Good thing both men are behind bars now. Thanks for the info. Another obvious irony: Church being his last name, looking at his crimes and where he found refuge. Strange.

03-13-2010, 07:39 PM	#3
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Wow that really is an amazing story Dante. I always find it fascinating when UM segments intersect like when Dan Caselaro was going to share with research with Don Devereaux right before he was murdered. Too bad Alamo and Church can't share the same jail cell...

03-22-2010, 09:49 PM	#8
SitcomsAreTheWay Retro Sitcoms Fanatic Forum Regular Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: NY Posts: 612	Damn, those details regarding the Tony and Rick connection are something. Speaking of Tony, every time I watch his segment, I always find myself fast forwarding past that noise he considered a musical masterpiece. "What can I saaaay to yoooou bonitaaaaa" Ugh.

03-25-2010, 03:13 AM	#11
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Hey I actually thought it was a pretty good song...

03-25-2010, 03:16 AM	#12
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	The above was meant to be a joke. Sounds like something an out of work 1970's era porn star would sing.

03-25-2010, 01:27 PM	#13
biscuitgirl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2009 Posts: 86	How ironic. Thanks for sharing!