Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
SHAWNEE, KANSAS: A youth pastor identified as Matthew Lee Richards has been arrested by the Shawnee Police Department in Shawnee, Kansas, for brutally attacking his wife and children before setting their family home on fire in the early hours of Saturday, September 16.
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The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about what could have driven a supposed devoted family man and church leader to commit such a heinous act.
What are the charges against Matthew Lee Richards?
According to the Shawnee Police Department's press release, Matthew Lee Richards is facing five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated arson with risk of bodily harm, as per Law&Crime.
The incident unfolded in a peaceful residential area of Shawnee, located just southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. On the fateful morning, authorities received multiple 911 calls reporting a disturbance and a house fire at around 3.47 am.
Audio recordings from the emergency calls revealed the harrowing nature of the situation as a caller described witnessing a fire in the basement and an armed individual attacking people within the house.
Responding to the calls, firefighters from Shawnee, Overland Park, and Lenexa arrived at the scene but had to wait for police clearance to ensure safety before entering the premises. The severity of the situation led to a second alarm response, as additional firefighters were dispatched to the scene.
Upon entering the home, they discovered that a fire had been deliberately set in the basement, which they promptly extinguished.
A total of seven individuals, including Matthew Lee Richards himself, were transported to local hospitals via Johnson County Med-Act ambulances. The victims comprised Richards' wife, a 19-year-old adult child, and four minor children, all of whom had sustained various degrees of laceration injuries.
As of the latest update, the 19-year-old and two minor children have been treated and released, while Richards' wife and two other children continue to receive medical attention. Authorities have yet to disclose a motive for this shocking act.
Matthew Lee Richards had been a dedicated church leader
Matthew Lee Richards had been serving as a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee since 2016, a role in which he was described as a "big kid who loves teaching little kids about Jesus."
Married since 2003, Richards and his family had been actively involved in the church community.
"He and his family have three rules: 1. Love God 2. Love People 3. Love Sports (especially the Jayhawks and Sporting KC)," states Richards' description on the church's website, adding, "Matt and his family have been at Crossroads since August 2016 and look forward to many more years helping teach and reach those in the Shawnee area."
The church's senior pastor, Kurt Witten, expressed his concern in a statement on Facebook.
"We are aware of the situation involving our Children’s Pastor, Matt Richards. We are gathering more information and will have a full statement at a later time. Please be respectful of this situation, as it is still an ongoing investigation," read the statement.
It added, "And please join us in praying for the Richards family during this time. Due to the sensitive nature of this situation, we will not be livestreaming Sunday’s Services."
Matthew Lee Richards' brutal act stuns neighbors
Neighbors and community members expressed shock and sadness over Matthew Lee Richards' act that unfolded in their peaceful neighborhood.
Jennifer Eggerman, a neighbor, recalled seeing the Richards family playing together in their driveway and walking their dogs. "It’s sad, knowing that we’ve seen those kids out playing in their driveway, with their family. Dad’s walking the kids up and down the street with the dogs," Eggerman told ABC affiliate KMBC.
It was revealed that in addition to his role as a youth pastor, Richards also worked as a seventh-grade English teacher at Christ Prep Academy. His staff bio indicated that one of his children had recently graduated from the school, while three others were current students.
Richards had previous teaching experience in Austria and Dallas, Texas, although by Sunday morning, September 17, his bio had been removed from the academy's website, per the Shawnee Mission Post.
Richards is reportedly being held at the Johnson County Jail on a $5 million bond, according to Law&Crime.
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