INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Hoosier Enquirer) – Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a motion requesting an execution date for Benjamin Ritchie, who was convicted nearly 24 years ago for the murder of Beech Grove police officer William Toney. The tragic event, which occurred in September 2000, led to a manhunt and eventual death sentence for Ritchie, but multiple appeals and complications have delayed his execution.
The Crime
On September 29, 2000, Ritchie, along with two other suspects, stole a van from a gas station, which set off a high-speed chase with law enforcement. After abandoning the vehicle, the suspects scattered. Officer William Toney pursued Ritchie on foot, but as he closed in, Ritchie turned and fired four shots, killing Officer Toney. Two years later, a jury recommended the death penalty, which was ultimately imposed.
Seeking Justice After Years of Delays
For over two decades, Ritchie has fought the death sentence through a series of appeals, but the time has come, according to Rokita, to bring closure to the case. "Most Hoosiers and I expect justice without delay, especially when someone murders a police officer, one of the many brave men and women we thank and respect daily," Rokita said. “This convicted cop killer has been on death row far too long—22 years—and it’s past time for him to pay his debt to society.”
Rokita, known for his firm stance on law and order, has pushed for the resolution of long-delayed death penalty cases, and his efforts have already led to an execution date being set for another convicted murderer.
Execution Delayed by Drug Shortages
One of the primary reasons for the delay in Ritchie’s execution is Indiana’s difficulty obtaining pentobarbital, the drug used in lethal injections. This issue has stalled many executions in the state, including Ritchie's. However, Rokita’s office has worked to overcome this hurdle, and Indiana is now prepared to carry out death sentences after years of pauses.
Recently, Rokita secured an execution date for Joseph Corcoran, a Fort Wayne man convicted of a gruesome quadruple homicide in 1997. Corcoran is scheduled for lethal injection on December 18, marking the state's return to death penalty enforcement after a 15-year hiatus.
A Message of Accountability
Rokita’s move to set Ritchie’s execution date underscores his commitment to ensuring justice for the families of victims, particularly those whose loved ones served in law enforcement. Officer William Toney’s murder sent shockwaves through the Beech Grove community, and after nearly two and a half decades of waiting, there is hope that the Toney family will finally see justice served.
While death penalty opponents continue to raise concerns about the use of capital punishment, Rokita’s position reflects the broader sentiment among many Hoosiers: those who commit heinous crimes, particularly against law enforcement, must face the ultimate accountability.
Hoosier Enquirer will continue to follow this story as developments unfold in both Ritchie and Corcoran’s cases.
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