Benjamin Ritchie, 45, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday in Indiana, marking the state’s second execution in 15 years. Convicted in 2002 for the fatal shooting of Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney during a foot chase in 2000, Ritchie had spent over two decades on death row. He was pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m. after the execution began shortly after midnight. Ritchie’s last meal was from the Olive Garden, and he expressed love and support for his family.
Ritchie’s execution followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, finalizing his legal avenues for appeal. Witnesses included his attorney, who described the execution process and noted Ritchie’s physical reactions. Outside the prison, people gathered in support of Toney and against the death penalty. Indiana resumed executions in December after a long hiatus due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs. Unlike many states, Indiana bars media witnesses, leading to a federal lawsuit seeking media access that was denied by a judge.
Ritchie’s attorneys had consistently argued against his death sentence, citing his fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and childhood hardships as factors influencing his mental state. Despite their claims of ineffective counsel during the trial and Ritchie expressing remorse over the years, Indiana’s judicial system upheld his sentence. Toney’s family, including his widow, expressed that it was time to find closure regarding Toney’s tragic death. Though Ritchie reportedly experienced personal transformation and regret during his imprisonment, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita emphasized the execution as honoring Toney’s sacrifice.
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