Richard was born on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, as the youngest of five children in a hardworking immigrant family. Though his parents were devoted, the household was marked by financial hardship and his father’s temper, creating emotional strain that shaped his early development.

His childhood was further complicated by several head injuries that doctors later linked to problems with impulse control and behavior. As he grew older, these challenges, combined with a tense home life, caused him to withdraw from school and family, displaying growing signs of instability and detachment.

A traumatic incident involving a relative exposed him to severe violence during his teenage years, leaving deep psychological scars. The experience, along with years of emotional turmoil, set the stage for the troubled and complex adult life that would follow.