THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
Ricky Forsyth
#1057661
Full Name: Ricky Wayne Forsyth
DOB: June 30, 1950
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Warren
City: Norwalk
Current Status: Animosa State Penitentiary
Date of Crime: June 13, 1993
Tentative Discharge Date: Life
Victims: Jolene Forsyth, Brian Forsyth, Nikki Forsyth, Jessica Forsyth, Martina Napodano & Helen Napodano
DOB: June 30, 1950
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Warren
City: Norwalk
Current Status: Animosa State Penitentiary
Date of Crime: June 13, 1993
Tentative Discharge Date: Life
Victims: Jolene Forsyth, Brian Forsyth, Nikki Forsyth, Jessica Forsyth, Martina Napodano & Helen Napodano
Ricky Wayne Forsyth was married to Jolene Forsyth. Jolene had fled a dissolution action in early 1992. The parties were separated and Jolene had obtained a restraining order against Ricky. Ricky and Jolene had four children. Brian, Nikki and Jessica resided with Jolene in the family home in Norwalk. The fourth child, Eric, had died in 1990 following a bicycle accident. The evidence at trial indicated Ricky had not coped well with Eric’s death and behaved obsessively with respect to the family’s preservation of Eric’s memory.
Martina and Helen Napodano were the daughters of Mark Napodano, the man Jolene was dating in June 1993. Since their father had an early appointment scheduled for the next day, Martina and Helen spent the night of Sunday, June 13, 1993, in Jolene’s care. At approximately 12:30 PM on Monday, June 14, 1993, Jolene’s brother, Kevin Rinehart, entered Jolene’s home and found the bodies of Jolene, Brian, Nikki and Jessica lying in the bed of the master bedroom. Jolene and Brian had been shot to death, Nikki had been strangled and Jessica had been suffocated. Forensic evidence suggested the family members had been killed in other rooms of the home and had been placed in the master bedroom after their deaths. Ricky was also found in the master bedroom suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and wrist. Martina and Helen had been shot to death and were found in a downstairs bedroom.
There was considerable evidence to establish Ricky was resisting his wife’s efforts to obtain a divorce and had threatened his family’s safety. Ricky had told his wife’s first dissolution attorney a divorce would not happen and he would do whatever he could do to stop it from happening. Ricky told one of his wife’s sisters in early 1992 that if he could not have the family, no one else could. In February 1993, Jolene’s sister-in-law, Cindy Rinehart, overheard a telephone conversation Ricky had with his daughter, Nikki. During the conversation, Ricky told his daughter it would never be over, and if the family tried running, he would kill all of them. In March 1993, Jolene’s brother, John, overheard Ricky tell Jolene “you are bringing this all on yourself. If you don’t quit, I will kill you and the others.” Also in March 1993, Ricky told Jessica’s former teacher he would kill Jolene and the children before there would be a divorce.
There was a great deal of evidence to establish Ricky had stalked Jolene and the children. Relatives and neighbors testified as to Ricky’s relentless efforts to follow Jolene and the children and monitor their actions. Numerous times a day, Ricky would drive by and/or sit outside Jolene’s home and observe her activities. In September 1992, the police apprehended Ricky when he was prowling around Jolene’s home. Testimony established Ricky had engaged in stalking-type conduct from at least early 1992 through Saturday, June 12, 1993, when Ricky followed his family and the Napodanos as they went to Des Moines for dinner.
From approximately January 1993 until the time of the murders, Ricky had called Jolene’s sister-in-law, Diana Rinehart, on a daily basis and discussed Jolene, the children, and the divorce proceedings. Diana testified that within a week or so before the murders, Ricky’s calls became more frequent and he was more upset. She characterized Ricky as “obsessed” and said he was distraught over the face Jolene had a male friend and was dating.
During the month preceding and the month following the murders, Ricky was involved in, and was scheduled to be involved in, numerous legal proceedings. Ricky had been found in contempt of court on May 6, 1993, for entering his wife’s property on two occasions in violation of the restraining order. As punishment for this contempt, Ricky was ordered to serve fourteen days in jail by August 1, 1993. Ricky was apparently despondent over being ordered to serve jail time, as he appeared depressed to his landlord and indicated to him he did not think he could handle going to jail. Ricky had also been charged with harassment for making numerous hang-up phone calls to Jolene in April 1993, and he was scheduled to appear for trial on that charge on June 28, 1993. In addition to the May contempt trial and the June phone harassment trial, the Forsyth’s dissolution trial was to be held in July 1993.
Following the murders, two apparent suicide notes were found, one in the rented room where Ricky lived and the other in the Forsyth home. A handwriting expert testified the handwriting on each note was that of Ricky’s. The note found in Ricky’s rented room repeatedly expressed his desire to stop all of the pain and save his family so they could be together. The note referenced his son Eric’s death and Ricky’s wish to “save all of us after Eric’s death” so there would be “no more pain.” At one point, the note expressed an apology (“I’am(sic) sorry”) but “I have to have my family” (emphasis in original).
The second note, found at the scene of the murders, also mentioned Eric and included four references the family will now be together forever. This note also contained an apology and an apparent request for God to forgive Ricky for the deaths of the two Napodano girls. At the conclusion of this note was a list of people and phone numbers, presumably individuals whom Ricky thought should be contacted when the bodies were discovered.
Ricky claimed the the State failed to prove he was the perpetrator of the crimes, and he argued the physical evidence showed he could not have committed the murders. He suggested Kevin Rinehart, Mark Napodano, or other unarmed individuals committed the crimes. He pointed to numerous complicated aspects of the evidence in his effort to challenge its sufficiency. For example, Ricky gave considerable weight to the fact that no blood was apparently found on Jessica’s hair. Jessica’s head was found upon a pillow which was covered by Ricky’s blood. Expert evidence indicated the blood most likely came from the gunshot wound to Ricky’s head. Ricky argued the only way Jessica’s head could not have his blood upon it was if she were placed on the pillow after the blood had dried. Since expert testimony indicated it was unlikely Ricky could have moved after his head wound was inflicted, Ricky argued it was apparent someone else committed the murders and moved Jessica’s body to the master bedroom.
The State’s expert offered an opinion as to why there might have been no blood on Jessica’s hair. He testified about the possibility of absorption into the pillow and the streaming of blood in the crevices away from Jessica’s head. Aside from this explanation, the absence of blood could have been explained by the jury simply finding the crime scene photographer was mistaken when he said he saw no blood on Jessica’s hair.
In challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, Ricky emphasized the alleged presence outside the upstairs bathroom at the Forsyth house of a blood type which did not match any of the victims, Ricky, Mr. Napodano or Mr. Rinehart. There was evidence the blood sample was very saturated and had the smell of urine.
Ricky also raised a concern about the absence of a blood trail between the bed in the master bedroom and his blood-stained jeans, which were lying on the floor in the bedroom. He contended the absence of a blood trail was evidence someone else (the actual murderer or murderers) removed his jeans from him after he was shot in the head. That argument presumed the blood found on his jeans could only have come from his head wound. Ricky was also shot in the wrist and bleeding from that wound could explain the presence of blood on his jeans. The absence of a blood trail between the bed and the jeans was consistent with Ricky’s removal of his jeans prior to his infliction of the head wound.
Ricky pointed to a phone conversation Page Brady had with Mark Napodano as evidence Mark committed the murder. A transcript of the conversation revealed that Page blamed Mark for placing the girls in a dangerous situation, though the jury could reasonably have found Mark’s responses to his wife’s accusations did not amount to an admission of guilt but were sarcastic statements of a father who was tired of being berated about the deaths of his daughters.
A review of the record established Ricky had the motive to commit the murders and had stalked and threatened his family for months. Ricky was found at the scene with a gun in his possession and he had gunpowder residue on his hands. A Norwalk police officer testified the gun looked like Ricky’s gun which the Norwalk police department had taken into custody during part of 1991. All nine of the empty casings found at the crime scene were fired from that gun.
Ricky was found guilty by jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Martina and Helen Napodano were the daughters of Mark Napodano, the man Jolene was dating in June 1993. Since their father had an early appointment scheduled for the next day, Martina and Helen spent the night of Sunday, June 13, 1993, in Jolene’s care. At approximately 12:30 PM on Monday, June 14, 1993, Jolene’s brother, Kevin Rinehart, entered Jolene’s home and found the bodies of Jolene, Brian, Nikki and Jessica lying in the bed of the master bedroom. Jolene and Brian had been shot to death, Nikki had been strangled and Jessica had been suffocated. Forensic evidence suggested the family members had been killed in other rooms of the home and had been placed in the master bedroom after their deaths. Ricky was also found in the master bedroom suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and wrist. Martina and Helen had been shot to death and were found in a downstairs bedroom.
There was considerable evidence to establish Ricky was resisting his wife’s efforts to obtain a divorce and had threatened his family’s safety. Ricky had told his wife’s first dissolution attorney a divorce would not happen and he would do whatever he could do to stop it from happening. Ricky told one of his wife’s sisters in early 1992 that if he could not have the family, no one else could. In February 1993, Jolene’s sister-in-law, Cindy Rinehart, overheard a telephone conversation Ricky had with his daughter, Nikki. During the conversation, Ricky told his daughter it would never be over, and if the family tried running, he would kill all of them. In March 1993, Jolene’s brother, John, overheard Ricky tell Jolene “you are bringing this all on yourself. If you don’t quit, I will kill you and the others.” Also in March 1993, Ricky told Jessica’s former teacher he would kill Jolene and the children before there would be a divorce.
There was a great deal of evidence to establish Ricky had stalked Jolene and the children. Relatives and neighbors testified as to Ricky’s relentless efforts to follow Jolene and the children and monitor their actions. Numerous times a day, Ricky would drive by and/or sit outside Jolene’s home and observe her activities. In September 1992, the police apprehended Ricky when he was prowling around Jolene’s home. Testimony established Ricky had engaged in stalking-type conduct from at least early 1992 through Saturday, June 12, 1993, when Ricky followed his family and the Napodanos as they went to Des Moines for dinner.
From approximately January 1993 until the time of the murders, Ricky had called Jolene’s sister-in-law, Diana Rinehart, on a daily basis and discussed Jolene, the children, and the divorce proceedings. Diana testified that within a week or so before the murders, Ricky’s calls became more frequent and he was more upset. She characterized Ricky as “obsessed” and said he was distraught over the face Jolene had a male friend and was dating.
During the month preceding and the month following the murders, Ricky was involved in, and was scheduled to be involved in, numerous legal proceedings. Ricky had been found in contempt of court on May 6, 1993, for entering his wife’s property on two occasions in violation of the restraining order. As punishment for this contempt, Ricky was ordered to serve fourteen days in jail by August 1, 1993. Ricky was apparently despondent over being ordered to serve jail time, as he appeared depressed to his landlord and indicated to him he did not think he could handle going to jail. Ricky had also been charged with harassment for making numerous hang-up phone calls to Jolene in April 1993, and he was scheduled to appear for trial on that charge on June 28, 1993. In addition to the May contempt trial and the June phone harassment trial, the Forsyth’s dissolution trial was to be held in July 1993.
Following the murders, two apparent suicide notes were found, one in the rented room where Ricky lived and the other in the Forsyth home. A handwriting expert testified the handwriting on each note was that of Ricky’s. The note found in Ricky’s rented room repeatedly expressed his desire to stop all of the pain and save his family so they could be together. The note referenced his son Eric’s death and Ricky’s wish to “save all of us after Eric’s death” so there would be “no more pain.” At one point, the note expressed an apology (“I’am(sic) sorry”) but “I have to have my family” (emphasis in original).
The second note, found at the scene of the murders, also mentioned Eric and included four references the family will now be together forever. This note also contained an apology and an apparent request for God to forgive Ricky for the deaths of the two Napodano girls. At the conclusion of this note was a list of people and phone numbers, presumably individuals whom Ricky thought should be contacted when the bodies were discovered.
Ricky claimed the the State failed to prove he was the perpetrator of the crimes, and he argued the physical evidence showed he could not have committed the murders. He suggested Kevin Rinehart, Mark Napodano, or other unarmed individuals committed the crimes. He pointed to numerous complicated aspects of the evidence in his effort to challenge its sufficiency. For example, Ricky gave considerable weight to the fact that no blood was apparently found on Jessica’s hair. Jessica’s head was found upon a pillow which was covered by Ricky’s blood. Expert evidence indicated the blood most likely came from the gunshot wound to Ricky’s head. Ricky argued the only way Jessica’s head could not have his blood upon it was if she were placed on the pillow after the blood had dried. Since expert testimony indicated it was unlikely Ricky could have moved after his head wound was inflicted, Ricky argued it was apparent someone else committed the murders and moved Jessica’s body to the master bedroom.
The State’s expert offered an opinion as to why there might have been no blood on Jessica’s hair. He testified about the possibility of absorption into the pillow and the streaming of blood in the crevices away from Jessica’s head. Aside from this explanation, the absence of blood could have been explained by the jury simply finding the crime scene photographer was mistaken when he said he saw no blood on Jessica’s hair.
In challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, Ricky emphasized the alleged presence outside the upstairs bathroom at the Forsyth house of a blood type which did not match any of the victims, Ricky, Mr. Napodano or Mr. Rinehart. There was evidence the blood sample was very saturated and had the smell of urine.
Ricky also raised a concern about the absence of a blood trail between the bed in the master bedroom and his blood-stained jeans, which were lying on the floor in the bedroom. He contended the absence of a blood trail was evidence someone else (the actual murderer or murderers) removed his jeans from him after he was shot in the head. That argument presumed the blood found on his jeans could only have come from his head wound. Ricky was also shot in the wrist and bleeding from that wound could explain the presence of blood on his jeans. The absence of a blood trail between the bed and the jeans was consistent with Ricky’s removal of his jeans prior to his infliction of the head wound.
Ricky pointed to a phone conversation Page Brady had with Mark Napodano as evidence Mark committed the murder. A transcript of the conversation revealed that Page blamed Mark for placing the girls in a dangerous situation, though the jury could reasonably have found Mark’s responses to his wife’s accusations did not amount to an admission of guilt but were sarcastic statements of a father who was tired of being berated about the deaths of his daughters.
A review of the record established Ricky had the motive to commit the murders and had stalked and threatened his family for months. Ricky was found at the scene with a gun in his possession and he had gunpowder residue on his hands. A Norwalk police officer testified the gun looked like Ricky’s gun which the Norwalk police department had taken into custody during part of 1991. All nine of the empty casings found at the crime scene were fired from that gun.
Ricky was found guilty by jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Source: Murderpedia