Theresa Riggi

Theresa Riggi (c. 1963 - March 10, 2014) was an American-born villainess who murdered her three children in Edinburgh during the summer of 2010.

Biography

Theresa Riggi was born Theresa Butimore in California, and she married Pasquale Riggi on September 30, 1989. The couple moved around to different parts of the world, which included living in England for eight years. It was during this time that Theresa gave birth to twin sons Austin and Luke (via IVF) on December 17, 2001, and added a daughter, Cecilia, on August 9, 2004.

Theresa became immensely obsessed with her children, which included always having them sleep in the same bed as her while Pasquale slept elsewhere. Their marriage had deteriorated prior to the children's births, but by 2006, the couple separated, after which they engaged in a bitter custody battle. The battle increased Theresa's obsessions, which later became paranoia, as she had the children fitted with electronic tags whenever they were around her estranged husband, and even gave Austin a phone to used to call her if Pasquale said something they didn't like.

On August 2, 2010, Theresa engaged in a bitter phone call with Pasquale, where Theresa asked her husband if he would have the children taken away from her. Pasquale stated that he had no choice, after which Theresa responded with the words "Say goodbye then." Theresa turned heel two days later when she stabbed all three children to death, doing so to prevent her husband from getting to them. Each of the three children were stabbed eight times, and in addition, Austin and Luke were both eight years of age, while Cecilia was just five days short of turning six. The psychotic madwoman later set off a gas explosion and dove head first from her second floor balcony in a suicide attempt, which she ended up surviving.

Theresa was arrested that day, and admitted to culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility. On April 16, 2011, the evil Theresa received a sentence of 16 years in prison, and it was reported that in 2012, she was beaten by a fellow inmate, leaving her permanently scarred. On March 10, 2014, Theresa (aged 50) committed suicide in prison.