Police in Shawnee, Kansas, arrested Matthew Richards, 41-year-old youth pastor, inset, after he allegedly stabbed his spouse and 5 youngsters after which set the basement on hearth. Seven folks, together with Richards, have been taken to the hospital. He’s in jail on a $5 million bond. (Richards mugshot through the Johnson County Jail; Scene picture from KMBC/YouTube)
Police in Kansas arrested a youth pastor after he allegedly stabbed his spouse, 4 sons and daughter earlier than setting their residence on hearth.
Matthew Lee Richards is going through 5 counts of tried homicide and one depend of aggravated arson with danger of bodily hurt, the Shawnee Police Division stated in a press launch.
Firefighters and police in Shawnee, a metropolis about 10 miles southwest of Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, have been referred to as at 3:47 a.m. for a disturbance and home hearth. Firefighters arrived and rapidly extinguished a fireplace within the basement. Seven folks, together with Richards, have been taken to the hospital.
The victims have been his spouse, 19-year-old grownup little one, and 4 minor youngsters, police stated. They have been all affected by “laceration accidents of various levels,” police stated. The 19-year-old and two of the minor youngsters have been handled and launched from the hospital. His spouse and two different youngsters stay on the hospital, in response to police. No motive was given.
Richards has been a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee since 2016, his bio stated. He’s described as a “large child who loves instructing little youngsters about Jesus” and has been married to his spouse since 2003.
“He and his household have three guidelines: 1. Love God 2. Love Folks 3. Love Sports activities (particularly the Jayhawks and Sporting KC),” the bio stated.
The church’s senior pastor, Kurt Witten, launched a assertion concerning the state of affairs on Fb.
“We’re conscious of the state of affairs involving our Kids’s Pastor, Matt Richards. We’re gathering extra data and can have a full assertion at a later time. Please be respectful of this example, as it’s nonetheless an ongoing investigation. And please be part of us in praying for the Richards household throughout this time,” Witten wrote. “Because of the delicate nature of this example, we won’t be livestreaming Sunday’s Providers.”
The usually quiet neighborhood was bustling with hearth crews adopted by police crime scene investigators and detectives all through Saturday.
“It’s unhappy, realizing that we’ve seen these youngsters out enjoying of their driveway, with their household. Dad’s strolling the children up and down the road with the canines,” neighbor Jennifer Eggerman advised ABC affiliate KMBC.
The Shawnee Mission Submit reported that Richards can also be a seventh grade English trainer at Christ Prep Academy. The workers bio stated one among his youngsters lately graduated whereas three at the moment attend the varsity. He beforehand taught at faculties in Austria and Dallas, Texas. As of Sunday morning the bio had been taken down.
Richards is on the Johnson County Jail on a $5 million bond. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Monday afternoon, information present.
Have a tip we must always know? [email protected]
