Who is Richard Heissenhuber from Almost Paradise and what is their importance?

Richard Heissenhuber meets Sally Tompkins at the doctor's office and decides to marry her almost immediately. Their marriage is happy for a brief time, but Richard eventually realizes that he and his new wife have little in common. Despite this, Richard settles down to a life with Sally until, after four years of marriage, Sally unexpectedly dies from a wasp sting.

Richard remarries quickly, and his marriage is not a happy one. He and his new wife, Dorothy, do not interact very much. He places Dorothy in charge of Jane, and he disciplines her when Dorothy suggests it's necessary. When Jane turns seventeen, she begins to take on many of her mother's attributes, and Richard begins slipping into her bed at night.... he even attempts to sexually assault her. Richard's actions leave Jane with unresolved emotional issues as she grows into adulthood.