Update to 8/1/24 Homicide Investigation

Posted on 08/02/2024

Date: August 2, 2024 
Case: Update on Village of Richfield Homicide
Authority: Lieutenant of Detectives Tim Kemps

The suspect in the August 1st early morning homicide in the 3500 block of Pleasant Hill appeared in Washington County Circuit Court this afternoon. Judge Sandra Giernoth found that there was probable cause, that the 41-year-old Village of Richfield man committed 1st Degree Reckless Homicide against his 42-year-old girlfriend. Judge Giernoth set bond at $750,000 and gave the State seven days to file formal charges against the suspect. He remains in custody at the Washington County Jail. Because no formal charges have been filed, we are not releasing the suspects’ names at this time.

The investigation has revealed that the shooting occurred in a camper trailer where the couple had been staying, during a domestic dispute in which the suspect became angry and pulled the firearm out. He fired the handgun once, striking the victim and fatally wounding her. The suspect then went into a residence on the property and spoke with family members before the Sheriff’s Office received an abandoned 911 call from the residence at a little after 4:00 am. Deputies responded to the scene to investigate and discovered the deceased victim and took the suspect into custody.

Cases like these are complex and take significant time and resources. We have an obligation to the victim's family and our community to conduct a meticulous investigation to determine what exactly occurred in that trailer so we can present an accurate and complete set of facts to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for a charging decision. We have been working closely with the DA’s office and the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office from the onset and are confident that homicide charges will be formally filed next week against the suspect.

Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said of the incident, “On behalf of my entire office I extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends and want our entire community to know that we have dedicated a significant number of resources who are working tirelessly to ensure the victim has a voice and justice is served against this perpetrator.”