Former Shawnee pastor sentenced to over 29 years in prison for stabbing wife, children
A judge has sentenced a former Shawnee pastor to more than 29 years in prison for attacking his family with a knife and setting fire to their home, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Johnson County Judge Jason B. Billam on Wednesday sentenced 43-year-old Matthew L. Richards to 188 months in prison on one count of attempted first-degree murder and 165 months on a second count of attempted first-degree murder. The sentences are to run consecutively for a controlling sentence of 29 years and 5 months.
Richards pleaded guilty in February to the charges, admitting that he stabbed his wife and children the morning of Sept. 16, 2023, after setting a fire in the basement of their home.
Richards initially faced four counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count each of attempted capital murder and aggravated arson, all felonies.
At the time of the attack, Richards was a children’s pastor at Crossroads Christian Church, a non-denominational Christian congregation in Shawnee, and a teacher at Christ Preparatory Academy in Lenexa, where he had taught English since 2020.
Set to be evicted on day of attack
Shawnee police and fire departments responded at 3:47 a.m. Sept. 16, 2023, to a home in the 6600 block of Goode Drive in response to reports of a disturbance and a house fire.
Firefighters discovered a fire in the basement, which they quickly extinguished.
After setting the fire, Richards went room to room, attacking family members with a knife, according to court documents. Several people called 911 during the attack, including one of Richard’s children, who fled to the garage.
Richards’ wife and two of his children suffered serious stab wounds. Three other family members, two children and one 19-year-old, suffered minor wounds. Richards also sustained minor injuries.
Richards told investigators the family was going to be evicted the day of the attack, that his family was unaware of the extent of their financial troubles, and that “it would be better if they all died” rather than “find out the truth.”
Here’s a list of domestic violence resources in the Kansas City area if you or someone you love is facing a domestic violence situation.
