A young Kansas pastor is accused of trying to kill his wife and five children in their Shawnee home before allegedly trying to set the house on fire, according to police.
Matthew Richards, 41, is charged with five counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder and one count of aggravated arson with risk of bodily harm in connection with the September 16 incident.
His five children, including a 19-year-old and four juveniles, and his wife all suffered “varying lacerations,” according to a press release from the Shawnee Police Department.
Shawnee police and fire responded to a report of a disturbance and fire at the pastor’s home at 3:47 a.m. on September 16.
Firefighters found a fire in the basement of a home on Goode Drive in Shawnee and “extinguished it quickly”.
Authorities took all five victims and Richards to the hospital for treatment.
Matthew Richards is charged with five counts of first-degree premeditated murder.Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
Richards’ biography on the Crossroads Christian Church website states that he was a “big kid [sic] who loves to teach little children about Jesus.”
“He has been married to Stephanie since 2003 and they have 4 boys and 1 girl. He and his family had three rules: 1. Love God, 2. Love People, 3. Love Sports (especially the Jayhawks and Sporting KC),” the biography said. “Matt and his family have been at Crossroads since August 2016 and look forward to many more years of helping teach and reach them in the Shawnee area.”
Crossroads Church Senior Pastor Kurt Witten issued a statement in response to the incident on September 16, saying the church was “aware of the situation involving” its “Children’s Pastor, Matt Richards.”
Authorities investigated the home of 41-year-old Richards. KMBC 9
“We are gathering more information and will have a full statement in due course. Please respect this situation, as it is still under investigation. And please join us in praying for the Richards family at this time,” Witten wrote.
An investigation into the attempted murder is ongoing.
Richards is being held on $5 million bond.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
