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An Indiana man, found guilty of a police officer’s fatal shooting in 2000, was executed on Tuesday through lethal injection, marking the state’s second execution in 15 years.
Benjamin Ritchie, aged 45, had been on death row in Indiana since 2002 following his conviction for the murder of Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney during a foot chase.
Ritchie’s execution took place at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, as reported by Indiana Department of Correction officials. According to a statement from IDOC, the execution procedure began shortly after midnight, with Ritchie declared dead at 12:46 a.m.
Attorneys said Ritchie changed during his more than two decades behind bars and had shown remorse.
In court as a young man, Ritchie smiled at Horen and laughed as the verdict was read.
He told a parole board he deeply regretted his actions, especially how he acted with Toney’s widow.
“I wish I could go back to the day in court, because that man’s wife deserved to say everything she needed to say to me, and that punk kid should have just kept his mouth shut and let her say whatever she needed to say,” Ritchie said.
Ritchie, who was also a father, spent his last days getting visits from friends and family.
“I’ve ruined my life and other people’s lives, and I’m so sorry for that night,” he told the parole board earlier this month. “You can’t take back what you did.”
