Grain Valley man, convicted of murdering his estranged wife, gets life in prison
A 70-year-old Grain Valley man has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of murder in the 2016 death of his estranged wife, Clay County prosecutors said in a statement.
Clay County Judge Shane T. Alexander ordered Larry D. Ratliff to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder conviction, plus 40 years for the armed criminal action conviction, in the killing of Carolyn S. Ratliff.
Prosecutors alleged that Larry Ratliff stabbed the 65-year-old woman to death at a family member’s residence in the 10200 block of N.E. 38th Street in Kansas City on Jan. 4, 2016.
Court records stated that Ratliff dialed 911 and told a dispatcher he had killed his wife.
Arriving officers found Carolyn Ratliff, who had lacerations on her neck and chest. Officers noticed gloves and a knife on a kitchen table.
Officers arrested Larry Ratliff, who was wearing an empty black knife sheath on the left side of his belt. They found his truck parked over a mile away.
In the statement Thursday about his sentencing, prosecutors said jurors were shown a video during the trial that showed Ratliff talking to police after the killing, detailing how he stalked Carolyn Ratliff, watched her from a distance to ensure she was alone and then carried out her death.
Ratlifff testified that he was trying to retrieve his cellphone but inadvertently pulled out his hunting knife, according to prosecutors. With the knife in hand, prosecutors said he lost control and stabbed the victim.
Clay County jurors found Ratliff guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action following a three-day trial in September. Jurors deliberated for over an hour before returning the verdict.
