Indiana Parole Board Recommends Proceeding with Benjamin Ritchie’s Execution
The Indiana Parole Board has rejected a clemency plea from death row inmate Benjamin Ritchie, advising Governor Mike Braun to allow his execution to continue as scheduled on May 20. Ritchie, 45, was convicted for fatally shooting Beech Grove officer William Toney during a police pursuit in 2000 and has been on death row since 2002.
Board chairwoman Gwen Horth stated that the five-member panel had thoroughly evaluated Ritchie’s petition, which included extensive evidence surrounding his diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) and his history of childhood abuse. Despite arguments from Ritchie’s lawyers that FASD symptoms should exempt him from capital punishment, the board found these factors had already been taken into account by previous judicial decisions.
In a public hearing, testimony was heard from Toney’s family and friends, who described him as a dedicated public servant and family man, leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. Horth emphasized the community’s long wait for justice, stating that the jury’s decision must be honored.
Ritchie, during a recent clemency hearing, admitted his actions, claiming he intentionally shot Toney. Despite some positive remarks about his prison behavior from former corrections officers, the board highlighted Ritchie’s record of over 40 conduct violations during his incarceration, which included violent conduct.
The decision now awaits Governor Braun’s review, who has no defined timeline to respond. Meanwhile, Ritchie’s legal team is pursuing both a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court and a pause from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, with prior attempts at a stay already denied by the Indiana Supreme Court.
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