Suvechha Sarkar
The couple, Marilyn Theresa and Richard Alfred Kananen Sr., were longtime residents of Orlando, Florida. When the latter suddenly went missing in September 1988, he was never reported missing. Things changed 15 years later, when Marilyn also disappeared without a trace in 2003. The investigation soon uncovered a dark secret, leaving the community completely shocked. Lifetime’s ‘Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story,’ which is inspired by the book ‘Fear of Our Father: The True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties,’ explores the details of their disappearance and murder. It also sheds light on how the case led to courtroom proceedings that lasted over several years.
Marilyn and Richard Kananen Sr. Were Living in Florida When He Went Missing in 1988
The parents of Richard Alfred Kananen Sr. welcomed him into the world on October 15, 1933, in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. As he stepped into adulthood, he began taking on several manual labor jobs. His work was primarily at General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. According to his sister-in-law, Maureen A. Morse, when Richard was in his early 30s, he began dating Marilyn Theresa Regan. Marilyn was born on March 19, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts, and brought immense joy to the lives of her parents. She grew up in a loving household alongside her sister, Maureen. Her sister stated that Marilyn began dating Richard sometime around 1954. Shortly after, they tied the knot and moved around to different places for a period.
Ultimately, Marilyn and Richard settled in Florida, and over the years, they gave birth to their son, Richard Jr., and their daughters, Stacey and Cheryl. According to a neighbor’s recollection later cited in reports, Richard was described as “an abrupt man with an explosive temper.” The book alleges that he may have burnt down their home twice, once with Cheryl and Marilyn inside. On September 10, 1988, Richard suddenly disappeared. Reports state that during that time, Marilyn told neighbors that he had gone to Maine. Furthermore, her sister recalled that none of their family members in Massachusetts were aware of his whereabouts. Since his family never reported the 54-year-old missing, the case didn’t come to the forefront until 15 years later.
Marilyn and Richard Kananen Sr.’s Remains Were Discovered on the Same Day
Marilyn had been working in the finance department at Delta Connection Academy since 1995. So, when the 65-year-old didn’t show up for work on September 10, 2003, her concerned coworkers contacted Cheryl. She then promptly filed a missing persons report. During the investigation, the detectives discovered that her husband, Richard, had also been missing since September 10, 1988. They learned that neither his wife nor his children reported it because he was allegedly abusive towards the family. On December 23, 2003, law enforcement received shocking information that led them to a house at 859 Okaloosa Avenue in Orlando, Florida.
From the back of the house, investigators discovered the remains of Marilyn. She was buried in a five-foot-deep grave, and her remains were wrapped in plastic with tape. Officials deduced that it was done to conceal the smell of decomposition. According to official reports, she had passed away due to suffocation. As investigators expanded their search, it then took them to the garage of Marilyn’s home at 7611 Alachua St. Upon searching, they discovered the skeletal remains of Richard buried underneath the garage floor. However, there are no official reports confirming the cause of his death.
Financial Deception and a Confession Revealed the Unexpected Killer
During the initial investigation, Cheryl informed the officials that she had pressured Richard Jr. about Marilyn’s disappearance. She told them that during that time, he had claimed that their mother was hiding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), further alleging she had been cashing out Richard’s Social Security checks for 15 years. It was followed by an investigation by the IRS agency and the Social Security Administration, which reportedly revealed that she owed about $100,000 to them. At that time, Richard was staying with Stacey at her home in 859 Okaloosa Avenue. A neighbor, Stephen Rucinski, told the detectives that Richard and Stacey had held a yard sale to sell Marilyn’s Disney collectibles. As per his statements, Richard Jr. had moved into Marilyn’s home after she went missing.
Stephen further informed detectives that Richard Jr. had bragged about accessing her bank accounts, including his parents’ joint account, by removing “Jr.” from his name. While monitoring his bank activities, investigators discovered that he had transferred approximately $60,000 from his mother’s trust fund to his personal account. Moreover, they found that several checks were cashed from another of Marilyn’s accounts as payment for his and Stacey’s business. A breakthrough came when, on December 16, 2003, Cheryl’s son told investigators that Richard Jr. had allegedly bragged about killing his father. Additionally, law enforcement discovered that Marilyn was about to inherit $250,000. Officers finally began keeping surveillance on Richard Jr. and Stacey. They eventually questioned both of them, but they were let go.
On December 23, officials rescued both of them from a storage unit, where they reportedly tried to poison themselves using carbon monoxide. From the scene, law enforcement discovered suicide notes where both of them blamed each other for killing their parents. Ultimately, Richard Jr. was arrested in December 2003. He confessed to killing his mother and led detectives to her remains at the back of Stacey’s house. He was charged with first-degree murder of Marilyn and later with Richard’s murder. For the years that followed, he provided prosecutors with varying statements before agreeing to take a plea deal. He pleaded no contest to manslaughter for Richard’s death and second-degree murder for Marilyn’s killing. On May 1, 2007, he received a 15-year term for the first charge and a 30-year term for the second. Although Stacey was arrested in 2007 for the murder of her parents, she was acquitted on March 12, 2010.
Read More: Richard “Rickie” Kananen: Where is Stacey Kananen’s Brother Now?
