From the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office:
Robert C. Richardson, 16 years old, was indicted by the Harford County Grand Jury for First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder and Use of a Handgun in a Crime of Violence in the death of his father, Robert Richardson, Jr. The case was presented to the Grand Jury on 14 February 2012.
The younger Richardson was arrested on 19 January 2012 and has been held in the Harford County Detention Center. “A lot of speculation about a motive has surrounded this case from the outset,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly, “which was thoroughly investigated by Sheriff’s detectives and the State’s Attorney’s investigator and their findings were presented to the Grand Jury that made the decision to indict.”
Under Maryland law a sixteen year old who is charged with first degree murder is tried as an adult and cannot be returned to juvenile court. The indictment means that the case will proceed with Richardson being tried as an adult in the Circuit Court. He will continue to be held without bond.
I am waiting for the bleeding heart moms to come chime in on here to defend this murdering sociopath in sheep’s clothing. Killed his father and was indicted by a Grand Jury for 1st Degree Murder! This means that a collection of Harford Co Citizens came to the same conclusion that investigators arrived at. So, how do you feel now? Do you still want to shelter this “poor innocent child” in your home? He killed his father, and the case is charged as a Homicide, 1st Degree, not manslaughter. Your efforts to raise funds for this “child” speak volumes for your naive, gullible minds and hearts. If he was abused, as so many allege, it does not justify murder, and I think that now that a Grand Jury has had a chance to review the case and agrees with the State, any attempt to defend this “child” are invalid. If there was a reason for the homicide, then a lesser charge would have been handed down. I am thankful for the job the Grand Jury has done in this case. Now, let us hope the Judge and Jurors can do the same come time for his trial.
The grand jury’s responsibility is to evaluate the state’s evidence against a person and decide whether there is probable cause for the criminal charge. This process protects the accused and the public from unwarranted prosecution. It forces the state to show that it is seeking a conviction based on more than rumor, speculation, or hunch. The facts are irrefutable – this BOY killed his father – so the Grand Jury did its job.
Evidence that backs up a good defense – motive, extenuating circumstances, etc – is presented at trial. It is the Citizen Jury that decides innocence or guilt, not the grand jury. By the way, everyone in our nation is entitled to a good defense – you know Innocent til proven guilty? Rather than spout off too early with preconceptions, let the process work and the rest of the story come out. Parricide is far different than cold-blooded killing – do your research.
Have you raised your own children? Teenage boys bodies grow faster than their maturity level. By MD law, because of the charges, he has to be tried as an adult – that doesn’t mean he is an adult. I doubt that you, as a young 16 year old, had the lifetime of experience that you surely have now to have processed your teenage thoughts at an adult level even with the best of family support – something this boy did not have. Be reasonable. It is just a very sad story with more the question being is there good in this boy to be salvaged? … is he a danger to others? Recognize that there must be balance between punishment to fit the crime along with rehabilitation to salvage some intrinsic worth of a person and his potential for positive contribution back to society at some point.
Conservative Mom, well said.
This is such a sad situation. To be honest, I find it horrifying that you are taking such delight in the plight of this child and this family.
I am NOT taking delight in this case. It is horrifying. A man was killed by his son. Unless the father was deliberately intent on murdering his son, there is NO justification on the planet for what happened in this case. I am, however, glad to see that the wheels of justice are pressing forward in spite of the “well wishers” who are trying to help this kid. I am appalled that there has been such a groundswell of support for someone that I see as a sociopathic murderer.
In 1987, when Timothy Sherman killed his parents in Hickory at the ripe old age of 18, there was no outpouring of support for him, if my memory is correct.
In 2009, when Nicholas Browning killed his parents, and his two younger brothers, at their home in Cockeysville at the oh so tender and innocent age of 15, I doubt there was a movement to raise money for him.
In 2011, when 17 year old Daniel Graham was arrested for stabbing to death a blind man in Bel Air, there certainly was NO movement to support this sociopath either. But wait, dear sensitive moms, this “child” has yet to go to trial so please, get your fundraising efforts under way forthwith.
The facts of the Richardson case are this- Mr Richardson was shot by his son. His son then dumped his body in a pond, a blatant attempt to conceal the crime. And, when spotted by police, he runs from them through early rush hour traffic and thankfully crashes his deceased father’s vehicle into a stone wall without hurting anyone. These are the actions of someone who knows what they did was wrong. These are not the actions of someone who legitimately defended themselves from an attack.
Once upon a time, people would look at this case for what it is, realize that the “child” was truly deserving of adult trial and sentencing, and let the case be. I see the attempt to raise money for him as an indication of yet another crack in the walls of the foundation of our society. A moral Nation sees true right and wrong and does not weep for criminals when they are caught. And that lack of moral perspective makes this a sad case to me.
I would like to conclude with this thought, for those who think that this killer deserves a second chance:
In 1978 Prince George’s Police Officers Albert Clagget and James Swart were killed in a police station by a 15 year old theft suspect who had grabbed one of the officer’s guns. Officer Clagget left behind a wife and two sons and parents, while Offier Swart left behind his parents and brother. The “child” was sentenced to 25 years and became a darling of the sensitive to criminals crowd. He got college degrees and everyone spoke highly of him. He was paroled in 1995, which by my math was at 17 years of his 25 year sentence. Big surprise, 2 years later he and his brother robbed a bank in Aberdeen. Cornered by the police, he did society a favor and rid the planet of himself. Did this vermin deserve a second chance because he committed his heinous crime as a juvenile? Some say, yes, but I say ABSOLUTELY NOT. Thank goodness he is gone!
My best wishes to the Harford County States Attorney’s Office as they proceed forward with this case.
Actually many of these cases couldn’t be more different. They have little to do with eachother aside from the familial relationships between the defenents and victims.
Background, times, locations, situations, upbringings, motives are all divergent.
I don’t think you can compare all of these different cases, really. None of them are remotely similar to Bob’s case, except that they involve minors. But at least this post sounds rational and you are making your point without trying to belittle other people. So we don’t agree. That’s ok. We are lucky that we live in a nation where we are allowed to speak our minds. I am brave enough to speak my mind, and sign my name.
Harford County State’s Attorney did the right thing in bringing this is front of a grand jury. Yes there are issues to be brought out, at trial, and not on facebook pages. The citizens on the grand jury thought there was enough evidence to indict the younger Richardson for 1st degree murder.
You know I have been following this because I know someone that knows this family personally. I find it amazing that his grandmother, Flo, has told others over the years that Bobby was abusive to Bear and she worried about him. In fact I was told that she kept Bear a lot when he was little because of that. However, she said in the sun that he wasn’t. So I have to ask, was she lying then for attention or is she lying now because her son has been murdered and she wants her grandson to pay for it? It is obvious that people are lying in this situation and that is sad. Do I agree with what he did? No I don’t but I really don’t believe that boy just shot his father for no reason. Even the neighbors said he was verbally abusive. Also, how in the world did that boy, who may weigh 160lbs move that body all by himself?
Is there ANY WAY you can get in touch with the friend of yours that you mentioned in your comment and PLEASE PLEASE have them get in touch with the attorney that is now representing Robert and/or his forensic investigator? People have been quiet too long about this boy and his life…Please, we don’t want him to slip through the cracks again. Thank you so much.
Jessie Green
Forensic Investigator
Law Office of Marc G. Snyder
jgreen@marcsnyderlaw.com – preferred method
443-226-2213
or
Attorney: Marc G. Snyder
1829 Reisterstown Rd, Suite 100
Baltimore, Md 21208
msnyder@marcsnyderlaw.com
410-656-9529
flo-my mother-never said any of that. as for lies maybe you should stop there. i could remark about the case all day but im not. and she never kept bear and she wasnt worried about him. there was no reason to worry. so dont talk about people lying when you are sitting there telling lies yourself.
Hi Kathy,
I am the Forensic Investigator for the Law Office of Marc Snyder. I would like to hear what you have to say, it is important we hear from the family the truth of first hand accounts. Please e-mail me at jgreen@marcsnyderlaw.com I would love to have the chance to speak to you and hear what you have to say. Thank you.
Jessie Green
Forensic Investigator
Law Offices of Marc Snyder
so now we are conducting business for a 1st degree murder case on the Dagger. Wonder if they also communicate on facebook.
If some people actually took time to speculate the situation and look deeper into it maybe they could see there was an issue. Murdering someone isn’t the answer but no one knows what exactly went on there and what limits he was pushed to. Its amazing how people only look at one side to a story!
The States Attorneys Office didn’t really make a conscious decision to take this to grand jury because they knew there are issues with this case that should be looked at. They have two options because it is a felony, indict him through grand jury or let it go to a preliminary hearing which is almost the same thing. For those of you reading the contact information for this private investigator, Mr. Green, keep in mind he only wants the truth/facts that are good for the defense. Any information that hurts the defense will be discarded by him so you can save your breath.
Abuse of any sort does not outright JUSTIFY murder, in any way.
But it does help determine the level of responsibility of the defendent:
-Was the defendent acting in self defense?
-Was the defendent provoked?
-Did the abuse effect the ability of the defnedne to rationalize, or their “sanity?”
So for those reasons, abuse can in fact determine level of responsibility, cuplpability and ultimately, sentencing.
I will be so glad when they send this boy to rot in Jessup and be done with it. All of these conveniently late do-gooders just knew how bad he was abused and for so long yet NOT ONE did a darn thing about it…. I call it Shullbit!
The boy probably needed a whack on the behind here & there but you liberal parents think time out & letting your kids have choices & rights & being their friend is more important than anything else….. well this is the result.
Perhaps if THIS father had shot his son’s laptop wide open with 8 rounds of buckshot things would’ve been better off for everyone involved.
Question:
Is there any FAMILY member in support of this kid now ( except his sister)?? What about the relative whose property the kid dumped his dad on?? I hear even the grandma wants him prosecuted.
Could not of said it better myself “not buying it”…
ATTENTION: IF ANYONE AT ALL IS CONTACT BY THE STATE PROSECUTORS OR DETECTIVES SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT ROBERTS CASE – IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO DENY TO SPEAK TO THEM, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SPEAK TO THEM OR BE INTERVIEWED BY THEM EVEN IF THEY TELL YOU -YOU HAVE TO. IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO DECLINE TO BE INTERVIEWED.
IF SOMEONE DOES CONTACT YOU PLEASE ONCE AGAIN CALL INVESTIGATOR JESSIE GREEN (WHO IS THE ONLY INVESTIGATOR WORKING ON BOB’S SIDE) AT 443-226-2213 OR EMAIL HER at: jgreen@marcsnyderlaw.com
Please Be Advised- In no way was I attempting to obstruct anything by my comment, just letting people know they have a right to talk to whomever they want or not to.
Ma’am it is a bit late to apologize. Your first post, conducted in all caps lock, is the internet equivalent of screaming at the top of your lungs “Don’t talk to the police/state’s attorneys”. Then your poorly written “retraction” afterwords combined with the first post speaks to one of the problems within society – that of “stop snitching” where decent people are discouraged from coming forward in criminal cases. With people like you, it is no wonder that cases go unsolved. I noticed that you had probably posted the same comment on another Bel Air news blog site and was glad that they had the temerity to take it down.
Personally, I hope that not a single person takes your advice. The State deserves to know everything possible about this horrible event. Obstructing justice, as you have suggested, serves no purpose. At all.
Good day, madam.