Benjamin Ritchie

Background

Benjamin Ritchie was a defendant in a case involving the death of a law enforcement officer. At sentencing, the victim's wife made a victim impact statement. Ritchie repeatedly interrupted her, laughed, and called her a "bitch" when she declared him a coward. The victim statement was given in the presence of Ritchie after sentencing in accordance with a new statute that was enacted in 2002.

The offence

A vehicular chase occurred. The driver, Benjamin Ritchie, wrecked the white van and fled on foot. The passenger, Michael Greer, fell from the van and also ran.

Ritchie shot Officer Toney five times with a .9 mm Glock handgun while fleeing through yards and into the backyard of 717 Fletcher Avenue. One of the four bullets Ritchie fired missed Officer Toney’s bulletproof vest by an inch, cut through an artery, punctured his lung, and lodged itself in his vertebrae.

Investigation

Officer Hickey followed the white van, which accelerated at a high rate of speed. Officer Hickey gave chase and was joined by Officer William Toney and Sergeant Robert Mercuri, each driving separate marked police cars.

The vehicular chase ended when Benjamin Ritchie wrecked the van and then fled on foot. Officer Hickey chased Greer on foot and caught up to him a short distance away.

Officer Toney chased Ritchie on foot through several yards and into the backyard of 717 Fletcher Avenue.

Arrest

Ritchie ditched a wig and the handgun in shrubbery nearby. He eventually made his way to the home of a friend, where he was arrested the next morning.

Trial

While in jail, Ritchie was interviewed by four local television reporters. During all four interviews, Ritchie claimed to be very sorry for what he had done and for the death of Officer Toney, but he claimed he had not fired the fatal shot. Ritchie claimed that he dropped his weapon and that he heard it go off as he ran away.

Conviction: Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Auto Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement, Resisting Law Enforcement, Carrying Handgun Without License.

Sentencing

The sentencing occurred on October 15, 2002.

Sentencing: October 15, 2002 (Death Sentence, 20 years, 3 years, 3 years, 1 year, Merged - all concurrent)

Aggravating Circumstances: b (6) Victim was law enforcement officer; b (9) On probation or parole.

Mitigating Circumstances: Defendant's youthful age; Unstable family; Diagnosis of Cognitive Disorder N.O.S.; Low I.Q.; Abused, head injuries as a child; Mother abused drugs and alcohol during pregnancy; True natural father unknown; Meager economic status.

During the victim impact statement, Ritchie repeatedly interrupted the victim's wife, laughed, and called her a "bitch" when she declared him a coward.

Outcome

Ritchie was sentenced to death on October 15, 2002.

Other details

Benjamin Ritchie’s character and circumstances included unstable family, diagnosis of cognitive disorder N.O.S., low I.Q., childhood abuse with head injuries, and a mother who abused drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. His true natural father was unknown, and he had meager economic status.