Shivangi Sinha
After Elizabeth Smart disappeared, investigators launched an extensive search to identify her abductor. In the early stages, attention turned to those with access to the family home, including Richard Ricci, a handyman who had worked there during renovations. Ricci consistently denied any involvement in the crime. While he was in custody on unrelated charges, he passed away. Netflix’s ‘Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart’ revisits this phase of the case, including Ricci’s role in the inquiry and its impact on the broader search for the truth.
Richard Ricci Had Worked for the Smart Family as a Handyman
Richard Albert Ricci was born on December 20, 1953, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spent his entire life. His path was not without difficulty, and earlier years included legal troubles that resulted in a criminal record. Further records and reports also indicated struggles with substance abuse. Despite those setbacks, Ricci later worked to rebuild stability in his life. On February 14, 2001, he married Angela Ricci and became a stepfather to her 11-year-old son, Trevor Morse. Those close to him described this period as one in which he focused on steady work as a handyman and supported his family. After Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home in June 2002, investigators pursued every possible lead. Law enforcement reviewed individuals who had been in contact with the Smart family in the months leading up to the kidnapping.
Ricci drew attention because he had previously worked at the home during renovations, and his prior criminal history led the investigators to scrutinize him more closely in the early stages. As a result, he became one of the early persons of interest during the investigation. On June 14, 2002, Ricci was arrested on charges related to the theft of property from the Smart family home on June 6, 2001, with the stolen items valued at approximately $3,500, as well as a parole violation. During questioning, investigators also asked him about Elizabeth Smart’s disappearance. Ricci consistently denied any involvement in the abduction, maintaining that while he had committed the theft, he had no connection to the kidnapping.
Richard Ricci Passed Away After Two Months in Police Custody
Richard Ricci was never formally charged in connection with Elizabeth Smart’s disappearance and remained in custody solely on unrelated theft and parole-violation charges. On August 27, 2002, he collapsed while in police custody and was rushed to the hospital. He had suffered from a brain aneurysm that left him in a coma. He died three days later, on August 30, 2002, at University Hospital in Salt Lake City. His wife, Angela Ricci, later filed multiple lawsuits alleging wrongdoing, but all were dismissed. She ultimately received a $150,000 settlement from the Utah Department of Corrections, which did not acknowledge any responsibility for his death.
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