The Murder of Bonnie Garland

This article was written using official police reports from the Village of Scarsdale Police Department, the sworn statements of Richard James Herrin, Father Paul Tartaglia, court records and other official documents, as well as the following sources:      

Connell, Tara. Herrin Murder Trial Opens, June 1, 1978; Mother and Friends  Detail Herrin's Love for Bonnie Garland, June 6, 1978; Herrin Takes Stand, Admits Murder, June 7, 1978; Herrin Says He Felt No Emotion in Slaying, June 8, 1978; Doctor Testifies Herrin Had Lost Ability to Know Right, Wrong, June 9, 1978; Herrin's Mental Deterioration Described, June 10, 2005; Herrin Was Not Psychotic, Say 2 Prosecution Doctors, June 13, 1978, Herrin Sentencing Due July 25, June 20, 1978;  Herrin Sentencing Due July 25; The Standard Star. (New Rochelle, NY)

Gaylin, William, M.D. The Killing of Bonnie Garland. New York: Penguin Books, 1982.    

Herrin, Richard. Statement to Chief of Police Ronald L. Rea in Coxsackie, NY July 7, 1977.    

Kochakian, Charles. Bonnie's Mother Describes Her Death; Herrin Weeps, June 1, 1978; Cops Find Grisly Scene in Yale Coed's Slaying, June 2, 1978; Herrin Trial Judge Refuses to Reduce Murder Charge, June 3, 1978;  New Haven Register.    

Kornbluth, Jesse.  A Fatal Romance at Yale. May 7, 1978,  New York Times.         

Meyer, Peter. The Yale Murder. New York City, NY: Empire Books, 1982.

Miller, Jonathan. Boyfriend Charges With Murder After Woman Dies of Beating, July 8, 1977;  Reporter Dispatch.

Herrin May Testify In His Own Defense, June 5, 1978;  New Haven Register.     

Lawyer for Herrin Cites Shell Shock In Scarsdale Killing, May 17, 1978, Killer in 1977 Case to Get Out of Prison, January 12, 1995;  New York Times.     

Norris, Lyn. Jealousy Cited in Murder, July 13, 1977; The Reporter Dispatch (White Plains, NY).

Herrin Judge to Read Letters, June 21, 1978, The Reporter Dispatch (White Plains, NY).   

Smothers, Ronald, Yale Senior Slain in Scarsdale; Boyfriend Surrenders to Priest, July 8, 1977; Fund for Slaying Suspect Creates Split in Feelings on Yale Campus, October 17, 1977; Jury in Slaying of Bonnie Garland Hears Details of Her Fatal Injuries, June 2, 1978, Both Side Sum Up at Herrin Trial; Focus on His Mental State in Killing, June 15, 1978;  New York Times.

Tartaglia, Paul. Statement to Detective Robert Rizzo, Village of Scarsdale Police, July 18, 1977.

Village of Scarsdale Police Department reports on Incident # 77-5142, July 7, 1977.

Zuckerman, M.J. Psychiatric Evidence Key to Herrin Verdict, June 20, 1978; The Standard Star   (New Rochelle, NY).