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Introduction
James P. Riva aka "The Schizophrenic Vampire"
James P Riva (born June 16, 1957) is an American born murderer from Massachusetts. Riva believed that he was a 700 year old vampire and that he could communicate with with the devil. He beat and murdered his handicapped grandmother, Carmen Lopez, aged 74, on April 10, by gunshot. He was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder and arson.
Early Life
Riva's interest in blood started at a very young age, James would draw grotesque pictures of the human body and other artwork depicting bloodied hypodermic needles. During his childhood he abused drugs and had a fascination with vampires. He also claimed to be abused by his mother, though she denies the claims. Riva also suffered from hallucinations, he believed that aliens had planted a mind control device in his body. His bizarre behavior had him committed to the mental hospital five during his childhood. His family was so frightened by his behavior, that his mother went to court to take him out of the institution.
He then moved to Florida where he believed he met with bad vampires. One of them being a 2000-year-old vampire who gave him blood to drink, this started his thirst for animal blood and he began torturing animals and harvesting their blood. His strange behavior led him to be hospitalized again, only this time his father was given custody.
Adulthood
As James got older, he found his blood lust harder and harder to satiate. He believed that The devil was speaking to him. He also began to believe that most other people were also vampires. The voices in his head told him but he needed the blood of others to survive. Riva lived with his grandmother, Carmen Lopez. James thought that his grandmother was also a vampire and he believed she was harvesting his blood with an ice pick while he slept. During the course of his trial three doctors diagnosed Riva with antisocial-personality disorder and schizophrenia. He lived with a number of his relatives throughout his adult life, including his great-uncle and grandmother. For the six months prior to his grandmother's murder, he had been living with his great uncle.
The Murder of Carmen Lopez
On April 9, 1980, Riva borrowed a vehicle from his father, he was seen later that day by his former high school teacher, the teacher commented that Riva seemed normal. James then drove to his grandmothers house where he shot his grandmother, Carmen Lopez, while she was in her wheelchair multiple times in the heart with gold bullets and also stabbed her. He then attempted to drink the blood from her wounds but was not successful because he claimed "she was old and dry", he then took her to her bedroom where he posed the body in a praying position and dumped accelerants on her body and around her house in an attempt to burn down the house and cover up his crime. Two months after the murder of Carmen Lopez, James called his mother and confessed to the murder. He believed that the devil was talking to him, and he felt that he needed to kill his grandmother and drink to survive and gain eternal life. In other accounts, Riva claims that he believed the voices in his head would stop if he was able to kill his grandmother.
Sentencing
in 1981, he was charged with second degree murder and arson. He was also found guilty on the assault and battery of a police officer. He was sentenced to life in prison . Riva tried to claim insanity, but was found to be criminally responsible for his actions. He has been up for parole in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Riva was denied all three times.
Riva claims to be a changed man, during his time in prison, he earned three college degrees and held a steady job throughout his time serving. He receives treatment for his mental illness and believes he can become a functioning member of society, though he is still known to send his mother threatening letters to this day.
sources
www.patriotledger.com/article/20090801/news/308019873
murderpedia.org/male.R/Riva-James.htm
www.celebrateboston.com/crime/vampire-killer.htm
http://masscases.com/cases/app/18/18massappct713.html
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-mad-1_01-cv-12061/pdf/USCOURTS-mad-1_01-cv-12061-0.pdf