The Bel Air teen who admitted killing his father in their home Monday night appeared in Harford County District Court Wednesday afternoon for a bail review hearing, calmly answering a handful of questions as family members looked on.
Robert C. Richardson III appeared via closed circuit television as Public Defender Lynne McChrystal requested “a reasonable bail” for the 16-year-old defendant. The C. Milton Wright High School sophomore listened as the judge explained the four charges Richardson faces in connection with the fatal shooting of Robert C. Richardson Jr., including first- and second-degree murder and the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony.
Although he had found an acceptable and capable bondsman, Richardson was ultimately denied bail and will continue to be held at the Harford County Detention Center. According to his lawyer, this decision will be appealed in the hopes to be allowed bail. In this event they will be working with a bail bonds service in order to secure his freedom. This would grant him time to convene with his lawyer to prepare for the upcoming trial in the hopes of a more positive outcome.
According to police, Richardson killed his father in their Moores Mill Road home Monday night and dumped the body in a pond on property owned by a relative on Gilbert Road in Aberdeen. He was spotted driving a family vehicle hours later by state troopers and led three police departments on a chase through Bel Air which ended when he crashed into a structure outside the Bel Air Methodist Church on Linwood Avenue, fled on foot, and was apprehended in a nearby residential neighborhood.
Richardson said Wednesday that he was “not aware” whether he had received copies of the murder and weapons charges, but said he “did sign a lot of papers.” Assistant State’s Attorney Alison Carver said Richardson deliberately waived his Miranda Rights before making incriminating statements to the police and leading them to his father’s body.
Judge John L. Dunnigan followed the prosecution’s statement with some advice for the defendant. “I don’t want you saying anything, Mr. Richardson. Let your attorney do the talking for you.”
Carver said Richardson presented a danger to the community if released on bail, citing the detainee’s “high speed” flight from law enforcement early Tuesday morning, along with pending charges against Richardson in Juvenile Court of breaking and entering and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Carver and McChrystal both said they were “not aware” whether police had recovered the murder weapon. Harford County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Monica Worrell said police had recovered a weapon in connection with the case, but could not definitively say whether it was in fact the murder weapon, pending forensic testing.
A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. Richardson will be represented by Harford County Public Defenders Eric MacDonell and Thomas Ashwell.
MacDonnell said his office is working to evaluate Richardson’s competency, but declined to discuss the progress of the evaluation or the specific grounds for it. Such evaluations are common in cases of severe crimes.
Two female members of the Richardson family accompanied MacDonnell and an intern investigator to the attorney’s office in the courthouse following the hearing. Both relatives declined comment to reporters before and after the court session.
What a tragedy for the entire family. The emotional suffering that was endured by all members is profound. May the father, who is now with the mom, rest in peace. As for the child, his life is ruined, at his own hands. Maybe now he can get the help he so desperately needs and apparently needed before he pulled the trigger. I am not passing judgement on anyone within the Richardson clan. From what I’ve read and heard, it seems the warning signs were evident for quite a long time. Everyone of us must try harder each day to be kind and helpful to our fellow humans.
This is very sad. I heard he had been abused by his Dad. The young man had called many times for help and Social Services did nothing. If this is the case…shame on them.
most calls were made by my brother because bear was missing or didnt get off the bus. whatever. never any for domestic violence. and lets not forget he dumped the body in my moms pond. not just a relative. his mother.
I hope n wish for best for him I hope he gets walk n or plead it down. No one came to that boys rescue you can’t assume or judge something no one knows what went on behind close doors u can blame school social service police dept n everyone else cause they was cause of this trajedy. Child that has been abused all way around can only take so much n in result majority of murders that involve kids killing parents all falls down to abuse. His family didn’t help him no one did he acted on self defense. I dont think what he did was right. But shit happens there ppl out there shooting n killing for no damn reason n this boy had reason. There so much in defense for that boy that are on his side n to many witness I hope that they all come forward on his behalf. No one will ever know what abuse does to children unless u expieranced as child so like i said shit happens n karma is bi’tch n worst part is this boy misery has finally came to end n he can move on. but he still alone unless his family steps up but now u see all ppl from state come forth n help him cuz he killed his dad n he alone but they should all stepped in long time ago not now. Well be ways best wishes for him n in my eyes he is innocent
My head hurts after reading that one
“you can’t assume or judge something no one knows what went on behind close doors” Your words, not mine.
You whole post is “assuming” that he is the victim of abuse and that he is innocent.
Try smoking from your own pipe. You weren’t there, I wasn’t there. Let the Police do their jobs. Stop guessing, speculating, cogitating, conjecturing or hypothesizing.
Free advice? Proofreading your post prior to submission makes you look less a fool….just saying.
thank you for saying that. ill be the first to admit my brother had a loud abnoxious mouth, my brother ws usually the one that called the poloce because bear was missing or whatever. the police were never there for domestic violence. but bear was also physically and verbally abusive with my brother. im not making excuses for either of them that is just how it was. bear did have other options, noone deserves to be killed. and neither does my nephew.
typical of this day and age….lets put the blame on everyone else!! that was probably part of the problem for yeas…
“years”
Krissy, can you please translate your post into English, so that those of us who went to school can understand it? Thank you.