Benjamin Ritchie, a 45-year-old man convicted for the 2000 murder of Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney, is scheduled for execution by lethal injection early Tuesday, marking Indiana’s second execution in 15 years. Ritchie has spent over two decades on death row after shooting Toney during a foot chase when he was 20. The execution, set to occur at sunrise at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, follows a recent resumption of executions in the state after a hiatus due to a shortage of lethal drugs.
Toney, a 31-year-old officer, was the first from his department to be killed in the line of duty, deeply impacting the community of Beech Grove. Relatives of Toney, including his wife, have expressed a desire for closure, urging that Ritchie’s execution proceed. Ritchie’s legal team has sought to overturn the death sentence, citing ineffective trial counsel who failed to present evidence of Ritchie’s fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and brain damage from childhood exposure to lead. They argue that his mental capacity at the time of the crime impaired his appreciation of wrongdoing.
Despite these claims, Indiana Governor Mike Braun denied clemency, and the Indiana Supreme Court dismissed a request to halt the execution. Disability rights advocates argue that Ritchie’s brain damage should exempt him from capital punishment. In contrast, Ritchie expressed regret for his actions, particularly towards Toney’s family, stating he wishes he could have handled his trial differently. As he faces execution, Ritchie has been receiving visits from friends and family, who will be present at the execution.
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