Bio

Benjamin Donnie Ritchie was born on May 30, 1980. He grew up in a challenging environment that played a significant role in shaping his early life. His family life was unstable. His mother struggled with drug and alcohol abuse during her pregnancy. This affected Ritchie before he was even born.

Growing up, Ritchie faced many difficulties. He had a low IQ and was diagnosed with a cognitive disorder. These factors made it hard for him to learn and fit in at school. He also suffered from head injuries as a child, which could have contributed to his struggles.

Ritchie did not have a clear relationship with his father. The identity of his true natural father was unknown. This lack of parental support likely added to the instability in his early life. His home life reflected meager economic conditions.

As Ritchie grew older, he became involved in various activities that led him into trouble. His early life experiences and challenges contributed to his decisions later on. These factors set the stage for a troubled future that would end in conflict with the law.

Murder Story

On September 29, 2000, Benjamin Donnie Ritchie shot and killed Beech Grove Police Officer William Toney. The police had noticed a stolen white van that Ritchie was driving. Officer Matthew Hickey began to follow the van. After noticing Ritchie was speeding away, Officer Hickey gave chase. He was joined by Officer Toney and Sergeant Robert Mercuri, each in their own marked police cars.

The chase ended when Ritchie crashed the van. He got out and ran on foot. Ritchie’s passenger, Michael Greer, also fled the van. Officer Hickey chased Greer and caught him a short distance away. Meanwhile, Officer Toney pursued Ritchie through several backyards.

The chase led Officer Toney to the backyard of a home on Fletcher Avenue. There, Ritchie shot Officer Toney five times with a .9 mm Glock handgun. One of the bullets caused serious injury, striking an artery and puncturing a lung. Ritchie then discarded a wig and the handgun in nearby bushes. He eventually reached his friend’s house, where he was arrested the next morning.

After his arrest, Ritchie was interviewed by reporters. He expressed sorrow over Officer Toney’s death but claimed he did not fire the fatal shot. He stated that his weapon went off accidentally while he ran away. During his sentencing, Ritchie's behavior was disruptive. He interrupted Officer Toney's wife as she read her impact statement, laughing and insulting her.

Ritchie was convicted of murder, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, auto theft, and resisting law enforcement. He was sentenced to death on October 15, 2002, along with concurrent prison terms for other charges. The aggravating factors included that the victim was a law enforcement officer and that Ritchie was on probation at the time. Some mitigating factors were his young age, unstable family history, and a diagnosis of a cognitive disorder.

On May 20, 2025, 45-year-old Ritchie was put to death by lethal injection.