Does anyone else remember the horrible murder that took place 3 months before the DeLaRoche murders? In August 1976, Chris Righetti a 16 year old from River Vale, kidnapped (from Paramus Park Mall parking lot), raped and stabbed to death Kim Montelaro, a 1975 IHA graduate, home for the summer from URI. I have frightening memories of him and would be interested in hearing what others remember and have to say. He would have graduated in 1978 from Pascack Valley HS. Although they are both in jail for the same thing, I can't think of 2 more different people. What do you think?
I am interested. Is IHA the catholic girls school? I use to buy weed and hash from a girl that went there. I think she lived in Montvale or perhaps Saddle River, anyway it was just off Upper Saddle River Road near the intersection of Huff Terrace. Her name was Kim and she drove an old 1960's black hurse, she would stash the weed beneath the horn on the steering wheel. She hung out with this girl named Theresa who lived in Montvale. Also does anyone remember the concerts at St. Joesph's High School. I think it was on Chestnut Ridge Road, There were also concerts I think at the school at OLM in Park Ridge. I use to party there with this kid Paul Kerick. We would do flaming shots of Southern Comfot between joints. It was quite a bit of fun. This was an odd period in the history of northen N,J., People were stoned and killing each other or themselves all over the Montvale area. It was sorted of like "Last House on the Left" Did anyone party at the old WWI training fort called Blue Fields,that was one creepy place.
Yes, IHA (Immaculate Heart Academy) is the girls school on Van Emburgh in Wash. twp. Kim Montelaro, the girl that was murdered, came from New Milford, so I don't think that's the same girl you're remembering. I do remember the dances at St. Joe's (Harry Chapin played there, maybe '74 or '75)and IHA too. At one of the IHA dances I was at(again not sure of the year - somewhere between '72-'76, there was a stabbing - things got a little crazy. Paul Kerrick, if it's the same person I'm remembering, I met through my husaband. I think he was a chef - but we haven't seem him in 20+ years.
I DO REMEMBER GOING TO THE ST.JOES DANCES THE MONTVALE ROLLER RINK AND CUTTING CLASS TO GRT COFFEE AND A CORN MUFFIN AT THE COPPER KETTLE. i DO MISS THOSE DAYS SOMRTIMES BUT THERE WERE SOME BULLIES THAT ATTENDED HILLS ALSO. IF YOU STAYED AWAY FROM THOSE PEOPLE AND MINDED YOUR OWN BUSINESS THOSE INCIDENTS COULD FOR THE MOST PART COULD BE AVOIDED. ANYWAY I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH LINDA "FISH" HERRING I WOULD LOVE TO TOUCH BASE WITH HER...TO SEE HOW SHE IS. I GRADUATED IN 1974 AS FAR AS THE HARRY THING GORS ALL I REMEMBER ABOUT IT IS WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER.
I went to school with Chris Righetti. I remember in Holdrum Middle School he used to bully kids - making them buy him lunch or picking a kid up and sitting him down on top of food. He was built like a full-grown man - hairy chest and bulky build.
In high school (Pascack Valley) the only thing I remember is he deliberately broke his arnm by slamming it in a locker door so he wouldn't have to wrestle on the team. I do remember the eerie feeling when hearing the police arrested him and took him out of school for rape and murder. My dad showed me a picture from one of the local papers (Montvale) several years ago which showed Righetti as a power weightlifter in prison.
Local Review poster (Reporter) - I used to deliver that paper as a kid! Would you be willing to scan and email the article(s) you have?
I was wondering about where all went after a look on classmates.com. I guess this guy was f--cked up. I remember him as a kid. Dad was a principal or some thing. In Northern Valley. Well my Uncle was on the Jury... It was a bazarr thing. Bert Foley would not lie for Righetti and then he turned on Bert> Yea I have alot of story about that boy. My Mother stopped me hangin at his house. he used to throw stuff at his grand parents.
Yes, I remember the hearing about what Chris Reghetti had done to Kim Montelaro. It was a very sad time for our community. If I remember correctly wasn't Kim's body found by pine lake inn off of Washington Avenue? and Chris was arrested while he was at school? PV? I am a 1982 graduate from PV but I also have 2 sisters who graduated from PV, one in 1980 & one in 1974.
As far as Harry De LaRoche goes, it makes me sad to hear on Starline's website that Harry might have been abused by his parents. I think they were a strict family but they were a loving & friendly family. Our family attended Christ Lutheran Church in Woodcliff Lake with the De LaRoches. My parents were friends of theirs and I was in a Sunday school class with Eric. In Fact, all three us us were the same age or age group as the De LaRoches and new them all. My question for Harry is why did you kill your brothers? They did nothing to you!
Also, do you remember the 1973 murder of Joan D'Alessandro of Hillsdale. She was only 7 years old when a neighbor Joseph McGowan killed her and dumped her at Harriman.
Even the best small towns have a dark side. It's very sad.
It's interesting to read everyone's experiences; the Internet is a marvelous tool. Grew up in Bergen County, graduated from IHA in 1978. After a few years of addiction, was fortunate to get clean/sober and 13 years later, put myself through college and grad school with the support of a loving husband and AA the fellowship of AA. With all that being said, I can tell you that growing up in an abusive household with an alcoholic father and a depressed, indifferent mother is an emotionally and psychically devastating experience. I was the oldest and my siblings did not suffer the way I did. I self-medicated to cope. Would I kill someone? No way. Why do some kids act out their anger/rage? Lack of spiritual values and no conscience to be able to take another life. Very sad to read about this in society; there's too much killing portrayed in the media. There are signs and symptoms that people can see. When I was 6 years old, neighbors went to ask my mother if everything was okay at home (after my father left for work). She said yes (a lie). When she told my father he changed. He closed the windows before he hit me. Thank God today people have more awareness. The best thing anyone could do is call 877-NJABUSE if you even suspect that a kid is being abused. One call can make a big difference in someone's life. I wish I had been taken out of my home and put with another family who cared.
