Richard Crawford was born on July 20, 1997, to Dana and Robin Crawford, a couple then in their late 40s.
When Rick was two, his father was crippled on a job site, and the family lived on his disability insurance until a house fire killed Dana and Robin Crawford.
Rick, then 12 years old, went to live with an elderly aunt, Gretchen Moss. Whatever emotional trauma he suffered from the loss of his parents at such a young age, he kept to himself.
Rick did well in high school but stayed mostly to himself. He focused on academics and did not take part in any extracurricular sports, music, or clubs.
The faculty sponsor of his high school's academic bowl team recalled inviting Rick to join the group on multiple occasions, but Rick always politely declined. The other teachers who could remember him described him as well-behaved but otherwise unremarkable.
After graduation, Rick found a job as a desk clerk at the Rebel Inn and, a few years later, was promoted to manager.
When he's not at the motel, Rick is usually at the nursing home where his Aunt Gretchen now lives. The staff there characterized Rick as quiet, helpful, and reliable. His co-workers described him the same way.
