RICHENS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 04:33:54 :

Independent Journal
Friday, December 11, 1959
Page 11

San Rafael Student, 14, Found Hanged

John Boice Richens, 14-year-old San Rafael High School sophomore was found dead last night, hanging from the rafters of the garage at the family’s Santa Venetia home.

John was the only son of Air Force Lt. Col. Kent J. Richens and Muriel Richens of 94 La Brea way. They have four daughters. Colonel Richens is now stationed in Iran. The family moved here from Oregon about a year ago.

Corner Frank J. Keaton said the boy apparently hanged himself. There was no note, and the mother could give no reason for the action. The boy was getting poor grades in mathematics but otherwise was an average student, she reported.

The coroner got this account from the boy’s mother:

John left for school at 8 a.m. yesterday. Mrs. Richens was home all day, until about 4 p.m. ,when she left for shopping.

John came home from school with a friend, Tony Arthur Sulzer. Tony recalled John seemed to have something on his mind. “Maybe I can help you; tell me about it,” Tony told John. But John merely replied, “You’ll see.” and went home.

Mrs. Richens arrived home and found her son hanging from a parachute cord. Underneath was a suitcase, on which the boy apparently had stood while fastening the noose.

The coroner found two other short pieces of rope tied on the garage rafters above a storage rack, which indicated the boy may have planned the suicide. Funeral arrangements are pending at Keaton’s in San Rafael.

Sheriff’s Deputy Douglas Gledhill cut the rope and lowered the body.

The four sisters are Karen, 17, Candace, 13, and Stephanie and Rebecca.