Benjamin Ritchie
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:47:30 PM Wikipedia source
Benjamin Donnie Ritchie (né Peoples; May 3, 1980 – May 20, 2025) was an American convicted murderer who shot and killed 31-year-old William Toney, a police officer from Beech Grove, Indiana, on September 29, 2000. Ritchie was arrested and charged with the murder of Toney and other offenses. He was subsequently sentenced to death on October 15, 2002, after his conviction on August 10 of that same year. Ritchie appealed his death sentence, but he was unsuccessful in the regular appeals process. He cited bipolar disorder and cognitive impairments stemming from childhood abuse, personal drug use, and his mother's substance use during pregnancy as reasons for the Indiana Supreme Court to grant him the opportunity to file a successive post-conviction petition. However, it was denied, and the court instead granted the state's motion for an execution date. Ritchie was incarcerated at the Indiana State Prison and executed on May 20, 2025. Ritchie was featured in a two-series documentary of the Indiana State Prison by British journalist Sir Trevor McDonald.
Infobox
Born
Benjamin Donnie Peoples(1980-05-03)May 3, 1980Indiana, U.S.
Died
May 20, 2025(2025-05-20) (aged 45)Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.
Cause of death
Executed by lethal injection
Criminal status
Executed
Motive
To avoid arrest
Convictions
MurderBurglaryAuto theftUnlawful possession of a firearmResisting arrest
Criminal penalty
Death (October 15, 2002)
Victims
William Ronald Toney, 31
Date
September 29, 2000c. 7 p.m (UTC−04:00)
Location
Beech Grove, Indiana
Weapons
9 mm Glock handgun
Imprisoned at
Indiana State Prison
Tables
· External links
Preceded byJoseph CorcoranDecember 18, 2024
Preceded byJoseph CorcoranDecember 18, 2024
Executions carried out in Indiana
Preceded byJoseph CorcoranDecember 18, 2024
Executions carried out in Indiana
Benjamin Ritchie May 20, 2025
Executions carried out in Indiana
Succeeded byRoy Lee WardOctober 10, 2025
Executions carried out in the United States
Executions carried out in the United States
Executions carried out in Indiana
Executions carried out in the United States
Preceded byGlen Edward Rogers – FloridaMay 15, 2025
Preceded byGlen Edward Rogers – FloridaMay 15, 2025
Executions carried out in Indiana
Preceded byGlen Edward Rogers – FloridaMay 15, 2025
Executions carried out in Indiana
Benjamin Ritchie – Indiana May 20, 2025
Executions carried out in Indiana
Succeeded byMatthew Johnson – TexasMay 20, 2025
| Executions carried out in Indiana | ||
| Preceded byJoseph CorcoranDecember 18, 2024 | Benjamin Ritchie May 20, 2025 | Succeeded byRoy Lee WardOctober 10, 2025 |
| Executions carried out in the United States | ||
| Preceded byGlen Edward Rogers – FloridaMay 15, 2025 | Benjamin Ritchie – Indiana May 20, 2025 | Succeeded byMatthew Johnson – TexasMay 20, 2025 |
References
- Though Ritchie's birth date is commonly reported to be May 30, court records indicate Ritchie's actual date of birth tohttps://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-7157/358287/20250507154224596_Cert%20Appendix.pdf
- wthr.comhttps://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/execution-date-set-death-warrant-signed-benjamin-ritchie-bill-toney-beech-grove-police-officer-murdered-killed-shot-to-death-penalty/531-a5e6c070-265c-41b5-b290-fc20940b69b2
- AP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/indiana-execution-date-benjamin-ritchie-murder-c743857b0111b0cece3cfdfc07be8136
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/indiana-execution-benjamin-ritchie-police-officer-murder-bill-toney-second/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/feb/02/death-row-2018-trevor-mcdonald-review-documentary
- "Benjamin Ritchie – Inside Death Row with Trevor McDonald – All Scenes"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK2UttDncXk
- Ritchie v. State [2007], Indiana Supreme Court (United States).
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3962947/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3952734/
- Ritchie v. State [2004], Indiana Supreme Court (United States).
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3965937/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/8817621/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967915/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967707/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967828/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967358/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967566/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3963293/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3966451/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3962804/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3966170/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3966132/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3965914/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3966092/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3966046/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3966075/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3963136/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3963167/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3962884/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3953045/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/107794105/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/01/31/indiana-death-row-holds-13-prisoners/5037977/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://eu.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2020/07/08/indiana-death-row-eight-killers-await-death-penalty/5383268002/
- news.com.auhttps://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/dating/i-was-just-24-when-i-fell-in-love-with-a-death-row-killer/news-story/c2986fbe559fc9a763453d2e1be53794
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3952963/
- Ritchie v. Neal [2017], U.S. Supreme Court (United States).
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2024/09/27/state-seeks-execution-date-for-man-guilty-of-killing-police-officer/75413733007/
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2024/09/27/indiana-attorney-generals-office-seeks-second-execution-date/
- WISHTVhttps://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/supreme-court-sets-timeline-on-ritchie-death-penalty-filings/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/indiana-police-officer-killing-execution-benjamin-ritchie/
- WTHRhttps://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/indiana-death-row-executions-bill-toney-dee-dee-horen/531-d169073b-95c4-4c9f-a8bb-01eb90cbf7a4
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/18/indiana-execution-joseph-corcoran
- CNNhttps://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/17/us/joseph-corcoran-indiana-death-row-execution/index.html
- WTHRhttps://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/indianas-death-sentence-without-execution-drugs-inmates-appeal-noah-shahnavaz-seara-burton-bill-toney-supreme-court-list/531-2c88d802-5bc6-4ae3-a483-0f032bbdc069
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2024/06/26/states-seeks-execution-date-for-convicted-fort-wayne-murderer/
- Associated Presshttps://apnews.com/article/indiana-execution-date-benjamin-ritchie-murder-c743857b0111b0cece3cfdfc07be8136
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/15/indiana-supreme-court-sets-may-20-execution-date-for-death-row-inmate-benjamin-ritchie/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/indiana-supreme-court-associated-press-court-records-rush-b2733970.html
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/28/clemency-hearings-scheduled-for-indiana-death-row-inmate-benjamin-ritchie/
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/06/i-am-so-sorry-clemency-hearings-begin-for-indiana-death-row-inmate-benjamin-ritchie/
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/12/a-monster-running-loose-in-the-countryside-clemency-hearings-end-for-indiana-death-row-inmate/
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/14/indiana-parole-board-denies-clemency-for-death-row-inmate-final-decision-now-up-to-governor/
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/09/indiana-death-row-inmate-seeks-scotus-intervention-weeks-before-scheduled-execution/
- News from the Stateshttps://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/state-executes-death-row-inmate-benjamin-ritchie-fatal-shooting-police-officer
- CNNhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/20/us/indiana-benjamin-ritchie-execution
- Associated Presshttps://apnews.com/article/execution-indiana-police-shooting-54aee13773b5b249601ef3f4bf7c6266
- Indiana Capital Chroniclehttps://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/20/state-executes-death-row-inmate-benjamin-ritchie-for-fatal-shooting-of-police-officer/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/8817305/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967281/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967731/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967590/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967624/
- The Indianapolis Starhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/3967137/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/feb/02/death-row-2018-trevor-mcdonald-review-documentary
- WTHRhttps://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/widow-of-beech-grove-police-officer-upset-killer-on-death-row-gets-tv-exposure/531-7959ac12-0187-4f19-9084-a0bcf6550116