The eight-month nation wide search for a former NIU student charged with the murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents has not produced any substantial new leads to his whereabouts.

Richard J. Church is being sought for the Aug. 22 deaths of Raymond and Ruth Ann Ritter. The Ritter’s were stabbed and bludgeoned to death in their home in Woodstock, Ill. Church’s ex-girlfriend, Colleen Ritter, and her brother Matthew also were stabbed and beaten but survived the attacks.

A friend of Colleen’s was staying at the house at the time of the attack but was not injured. A third Ritter child, Steven, was staying at a friend’s house at the time of the rampage and also was not injured.

Herb Pitzman, Woodstock Police chief, said there have not been any new developments in the case. The latest development occurred “the last time there was something in the newspapers. We haven’t had anything new,” he said.

Bob Long, an investigator with the Federal Bureau of Investigation said there have been a couple of unconfirmed sightings of Church, but did not comment on the locations of the sightings. Long said there has not been any significant progression in the nation-wide search for Church.

Thomas Baker, McHenry County State’s Attourney, said the search for Church will continue until he is caught. Baker declined to comment on the chain of events that might have led to the attack.

Church has been identified as the assailant by Colleen and Matthew Ritter, as well as two additional house guests.

Church is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of home invasion, one count of aggravated battery and one count of flight to avoid prosecution.

After the attack, Church allegedly fled in a two-tone blue 1981 Dodge pickup truck. Church was reportedly seen by a motel clerk in the Wisconsin Dells the day after the attack. The truck was found abondoned in September in West Hollywood, Calif.

Church, 19 at the time of the attack, was scheduled to enroll in classes during the 1988 fall semester at NIU.

Considered by many as a typical student, Church was reportedly distraught after Colleen decided to end their two-and-one-half-year relationship.

Immediately prior to the attack, Church threatened to kill himself if Colleen did not resume their relationship.

Church and Colleen were high-school sweethearts, popular and active in extra-curricular activities. The football-player-and-cheerleader couple had broken up about two weeks prior to the attack, at the urging of Colleen’s parents.

The Ritter’s reportedly urged Colleen to end the relationship because Church was partying too much, but Colleen apparently was not unhappy with the decision not to see Church any more.

Church’s parents were going through a divorce at the time of the killings and he began talking of suicide after he did not earn enough credits at NIU to receive sophomore status. All are factors that friends believe might have pushed Church over the edge.

The Ritters are the first recorded victims of a double homocide in Woodstock.