Bio

Kenneth T. Richey was born on August 3, 1964, in Zeist, Netherlands. His father was stationed there with the U.S. military. When Kenneth was just a few months old, his family moved to Scotland, where his mother was from. Kenneth grew up in Scotland until his parents divorced when he was a teenager. After the divorce, his father returned to the United States.

In December 1982, Kenneth made the move to Ohio to live with his father. He was looking for work and seeking a new start in life. In 1984, he decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He served for 14 months before being honorably discharged.

Kenneth's life changed dramatically in June 1986 when he was involved in a tragic incident. A fire broke out in an apartment complex in Columbus Grove, Ohio. His life would be forever altered by the events that followed.

Murder Story

In the early hours of June 30, 1986, a fire broke out in the apartment of Hope Collins in Columbus Grove, Ohio. The blaze quickly spread through the second-floor unit, eventually leading to the death of two-year-old Cynthia Collins due to asphyxia from smoke inhalation. At that time, Hope Collins was not in the apartment as she had left to spend the night with a boyfriend after a party with neighbors.

Kenny Richey, who was at the party, was invited by Hope to stay at her apartment to look after Cynthia. However, he claimed he was too drunk to babysit. After the fire started, many neighbors reported seeing patterns of bright flames and dense smoke coming from the apartment. When fire engines arrived, several firefighters faced intense flames, making it difficult to enter the apartment. Despite their efforts, they could not save Cynthia, who was found in her bedroom.

Initial investigation into the fire suggested that it had been caused by an electric fan. However, this conclusion changed when Assistant State Fire Marshal Robert Cryer examined the scene and believed it to be arson. This led to Richey being arrested and charged with aggravated murder, arson, child endangerment, and breaking and entering.

Prosecutors claimed Richey had motives connected to his recent breakup with his ex-girlfriend, Candy Barchet, suggesting he tried to harm her and her new boyfriend by starting the fire. They alleged that Richey stole gasoline and paint thinner from a local greenhouse to ignite the fire, climbing onto the apartment roof to access the balcony.

During the trial, circumstantial evidence was presented by the prosecution, including testimony from witnesses who claimed Richey had threatened to burn down the building. Despite evidence presented by the defense suggesting the fire may have been accidental, the three-judge panel found Richey guilty and sentenced him to death in 1987.

In the years that followed, Richey maintained his innocence, and doubts regarding the forensic evidence used to convict him began to rise. The conviction was overturned in 2005 by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit due to ineffective counsel and questions surrounding the integrity of the original trial evidence. After several appeals and legal battles, Richey accepted a plea bargain in December 2007, pleading no contest to reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, which allowed him to be released after serving time.