A dramatic and tragic home invasion in Richmond, Kentucky, has culminated in the announcement of a trial set for early May 2026, wherein the accused intruder could face the death penalty. The victim, a 32-year-old attorney, was shot in her bed during the February 2022 incident by a man who scaled a wall to gain entry. With multiple charges ranging from murder to attempted murder, the case highlights chilling details of motive, mental-health defences, and a family’s quest for justice.
Break-in, gunfire and the deadly shot
On the morning of February 22, 2022, the defendant entered the residence at 1266 Willis Branch by scaling a wall, confronting and opening fire inside the home. According to investigators, he was armed with an AR-15 that he had owned for years and admitted to shooting the 32-year-old attorney multiple times while she was asleep in her bed. He also fired at the homeowner, a former state legislator, as well as at the door of a teenager’s bedroom. The accused then fled to Florida but was later captured and returned to Kentucky to face justice.
Trial scheduled — punishment could include death
The court has tentatively scheduled the trial for May 1, 2026, in Madison County Circuit Court. The judge has already ruled that the death penalty remains on the table. In addition to the murder charge, the accused is also facing burglary, assault, criminal mischief and numerous counts of attempted murder. While the prosecution is pushing for the maximum penalty, the defence has mounted pleas of mental-health issues, specifically schizoaffective disorder, although the judge found there was no documented serious mental illness at the time of the crime.
Motive murky — bunker obsession emerges
Although the motive for the break-in and killing remains officially unclear, law-enforcement records present a chilling backdrop. The accused’s mother reported that he had developed an obsession with bunkers, nuclear war and global collapse. The victim’s home reportedly contained a subterranean bunker that the intruder allegedly sought to access — willing, he said, to “kill the family” to gain control of it. During the court proceedings, the victim’s family appeared unified and emotional, urging the judge to keep the death-penalty option in play, saying they continue to suffer loss and trauma every day.
