RITCHIE v. STATE (2025)

Published Order Denying Rehearing

After completing a direct appeal, a post-conviction appeal, and federal habeas corpus proceedings, Benjamin Ritchie remains sentenced to death for the murder of Beech Grove police officer William Toney. On April 15, 2025, the Court issued an order (1) denying Ritchie's request for leave to file a successive petition for post-conviction relief; and (2) granting the State's motion to set an execution date. On April 22, Ritchie, by counsel, filed a Petition for Rehearing, and on April 23, he filed a Motion for Oral Argument and Motion for Stay of Execution. The State filed a response on April 28, and we granted Ritchie's motion for leave to file a reply to the State's response.

Being duly advised, and having considered all the pleadings and the evidence before us, including the Amended Notice to the Court and four expert reports filed April 15, 2025, the Court's evenly divided vote renders Ritchie's “Petition for Rehearing,” “Motion for Oral Argument,” and “Motion for Stay of Execution” DENIED.

Slaughter and Molter, JJ., concur. Rush, C.J., and Goff, J., dissent. Massa, J., did not participate in the decision of this matter.