Kansas Youth Pastor Sentenced to Nearly Three Decades for Stabbing Family Amid Financial Crisis
A Kansas youth pastor has been sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for stabbing his wife and children in a violent attack triggered by financial distress and an impending eviction.
District Judge Jason B. Billam sentenced 42-year-old Matthew Lee Richards on Wednesday to 188 months for one count of attempted first-degree murder and another 165 months for a second count of second-degree murder. The sentences will run consecutively, totaling 353 months, equivalent to 29 years and five months. Richards will receive credit for the 558 days he has already served.
During the sentencing, Richards displayed visible emotion, wiping away tears. His mother and sister spoke on his behalf, expressing love and support. His mother described him as her “friend forever,” while his sister emphasized that this was not a case of a “bad guy doing a bad thing,” but rather a “good guy who did a bad thing.” She acknowledged the consequences of his actions but argued that his children should not be deprived of their father for such an extended period. She also stated that his untreated mental illness, now being addressed, contributed to the attack.
Richards was highly emotional when addressing the court, expressing deep remorse for his actions. He admitted that shame and fear led him down a destructive path that ultimately resulted in violence against his family. Apologizing to his loved ones, he acknowledged that his deception about their financial situation had devastating consequences.
Richards was initially charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson. Last month, he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder. The case came to light on September 16, 2023, when several 911 calls reported a house fire and a stabbing at a home in Shawnee, Kansas. One of the calls indicated that a father was chasing his children with a knife, while another caller stated that they had been stabbed.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found three stab wound victims outside the home, while smoke billowed from the structure. An explosion blew out the garage doors as emergency responders arrived. Investigators determined that Richards had stabbed his wife, four sons—including a 19-year-old—and his daughter. His wife sustained multiple stab wounds and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Two of the children also suffered severe stab wounds.
One of the children told officers that their father went from room to room stabbing them while they were in bed. Richards was found inside the home and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation before admitting to investigators, “I stabbed my family.” He confessed that he had not told his wife about their impending eviction and had made no preparations for their departure. Faced with the overwhelming situation, he formulated a plan to set the house on fire and then used a knife to attack his family.
Richards recalled struggling with his wife over the knife as she screamed for help. His children ran for safety, with one of them shouting, “Dad has a knife.” He later described himself as a “monster” and acknowledged the horror of his actions. One son suffered a slash wound across his neck, another had severe stab wounds to the chest and abdomen, while a third sustained injuries to his colon, liver, neck, and back. His daughter was slashed in the arm. Neighbors reported that the children banged on their door for help, saying their father had attacked them.
Bloodstains were found throughout the home, and the fire was determined to have been intentionally set in the basement. Fire crews managed to contain the blaze before it spread further.
Neighbors expressed shock at the incident, noting that Richards had always appeared to be a devoted father. Jennifer Eggerman, a resident in the area, recalled seeing him playing with his children and walking them down the street with their dogs.
Richards had served as a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee since 2016. His online bio, which has since been removed, described him as someone passionate about teaching children about faith. The church’s senior pastor, Kurt Witten, released statements expressing the congregation’s devastation and support for the Richards family. A fund was established to assist the family with medical and daily expenses.
In addition to his role as a pastor, Richards was a seventh-grade English teacher at Christ Prep Academy. His staff bio, which has also been removed, indicated that one of his children was a graduate of the school while three others were current students. He had previously taught at an international school in Austria and in Dallas, Texas.
Despite his history of working with children and families, the violent attack shocked those who knew him. The case underscores the devastating consequences of untreated mental illness and financial desperation, leaving his family to recover from both physical and emotional trauma as he serves his sentence.
Comments