2008 Woodie Awards
Third defendant pleads guilty in murder case
Kathleen Groves
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: Front Page
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Graham is the third and final defendant to be found guilty in the case of Richardson's murder. He is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 23.
Samuel Becker, of rural Cherokee County, and Edward Gordon, Pittsburg, have also been found guilty in the case.
Graham and Becker were both charged with first-degree murder, the kidnapping of five people (including Richardson), aggravated battery, assault and burglary. Gordon was charged with second-degree murder.
Becker, the first to stand trial, was found guilty of 11 counts, including aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, kidnapping and felony murder charges. He has been sentenced to life plus 68 months.
Gordon agreed to plead no contest to second-degree murder charges. He signed the prosecutor's agreement of a 10-year sentence. Typical second-degree murder charges carry a sentence of 10 to 54 years.
Richardson was killed about 2 a.m. on Jan. 30 of last year in Baxter Springs. According to witness testimonies, an altercation began when Becker, Gordon and Graham discovered that a safe, containing $5,000 and marijuana, was missing.
The defendants, while in possession of a firearm, proceeded to neighboring houses in search of the safe. Five individuals were kidnapped and held at Gordon's house, located on East 20th Street.
Geoffrey Haynes, one of the kidnapped persons, testified to being choked and strangled, as well as having a gun held in his mouth by Becker.
Richardson arrived at the house and attempted to wrestle the gun away, leading to shots being fired. Richardson was hit once in his left leg.
The victims being held at the house were ordered to leave after the shot had been fired. Richardson began walking to his car and yelling for help.
According to medical testimony, Richardson bled to death only minutes after being shot.
A resident on 20th Street called the police after hearing the gunshots.
Richardson, a Moultrie, Ga., native, transferred to Pitt State in 2002 from Southwest Missouri State-West Plains, and became a member of the basketball team.
He averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game in his two-year career at Pitt State.
Richardson was selected for the first-team All-MIAA squad, as well as the all-defensive team as a senior. He was named to the honorable mention All-MIAA team the year before as a junior.
He earned MIAA Player of the Week honors twice during his senior year, when he also picked up all-region honors.
Richardson holds Pittsburg State records for blocked shots in a career, season and game.
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