• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Death row inmate has sad realisation moments before being executed for heinous crime

Home> News> Crime

Updated 16:26 21 May 2025 GMT+1Published 16:11 21 May 2025 GMT+1

Death row inmate has sad realisation moments before being executed for heinous crime

Indiana killer Benjamin Ritchie, 45, was executed earlier this week following the 2000 murder of a local police officer

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

It wasn't until moments before his execution last week that the horror of convicted killer Benjamin Ritchie's heinous crime finally dawned upon him, and he issued a gut-wrenching statement.

The 45-year-old had been on death row in Indiana State Prison since 2002 - two years after he was found guilty of the cold-blooded murder of a local police officer.

Ritchie had been in his 20s at the time, with the gruesome killing beginning with him and two friends stealing a white van from a petrol station in the Beech Grove area.

Advert

That night, the local police force were advised to look out for said vehicle, and in the hours that followed, Ritchie and his accomplices drove the stolen van right by officer Matthew 'Matt' Hickey.

Ritchie was executed 25 years after committing his crime (WTHR)
Ritchie was executed 25 years after committing his crime (WTHR)

Hickey - who was on his way to a road traffic accident at the time - confirmed the sighting and called for back-up, after which two fellow police officers, one being William Ronald Toney, joined in the pursuit.

Eventually Ritchie drove the van into a nearby garden and the thieving trio attempted to flee the scene on foot. One managed to escape, while Hickey caught the other.

Advert

Ritchie, meanwhile, was chased by married father-of-two Toney - who had only been on the force for two years.

Pulling out a gun, Ritchie fired four shots in Toney's direction, one of which struck him in the chest just above his bulletproof vest, fatally hitting the officer.

Following a lengthy trial and a number of appeals, in 2002, Ritchie was sentenced to death for Toney's murder.

It would take a further 25 years, however, for his execution date to be set. Eventually, it was ruled at a parole hearing earlier this month that the murderer would die via lethal injection on 20 May 2025.

Advert

During said hearing, Ritchie was asked if he had any final comments.

Toney was murdered by Ritchie (WTHR)
Toney was murdered by Ritchie (WTHR)

In response, the killer claimed he'd only recently wrapped his head around the heartbreaking impact of his crime.

According to a statement by the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC), Ritchie admitted: "I’ve ruined my life and other people’s lives, and I’m so sorry for that night.

Advert

"You can’t take back what you did."

It's somewhat rare for killers to express such sentiments of regret prior to their execution. Instead many death row inmates issue nonsensical statements, or bizarre attempts at humour in their final minutes, alluding to their warped mindset.

An example of such an instance was the 2002 execution of Aileen Wuornos - America's most notorious female serial killer - who famously told witnesses to her death: "I'd just like to say, I'm sailing with the rock, and I'll be back, like Independence Day, with Jesus, June 6th.

"Like the movie, big mothership and all. I'll be back."

Advert

The 1992 execution of California killer Robert Alton Harris was similarly bizarre, after the two-time child murderer uttered a chilling rhyme before being put to death.

Ritchie seemed to issue a statement of regret (Getty Stock Image)
Ritchie seemed to issue a statement of regret (Getty Stock Image)

"You can be a king or a street sweeper," he reportedly said.

"But everyone dances with the Grim Reaper."

Check out some similarly eerie final statements right here.

Featured Image Credit: Indiana Department of Corrections

Topics: Crime, True Crime, US News, News

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
  • a day ago

    Controversial billionaire says at least 106 of his children will inherit his $17,000,000,000

    Telegram CEO Pavel Durov also revealed the very strict terms and conditions when it comes to dishing out his colossal fortune

    News
  • a day ago

    Doctor reveals how to protect yourself against rabies if you’re going abroad this summer

    This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams explained exactly what to do if you get bitten or scratched by an animal in a country where rabies is common

    News
  • a day ago

    Plane passengers who have a suitcase in one of these colours issued unexpected warning

    Ryanair believes their customers should avoid three colours in particular

    News
  • a day ago

    Donald Trump's new passport policy targeting trans people is blocked by US judge

    Boston judge Julia Kobick claimed the potential policy was unconstitutional

    News
  • Death row inmate Gregory Hunt's sobering six-word admission right before his execution
  • Haunting final words of death row inmate before he was executed after being imprisoned for more than three decades
  • Reason why inmate on death row was executed despite trying to use 'morbid obesity' to avoid being killed
  • Death row murderer left ‘convulsing’ after making eerie hand gesture during execution via controversial method