A Kansas youth pastor, Matthew Lee Richards, has been sentenced to 29 years and 5 months in prison after stabbing his wife and five children and setting their home on fire. The tragic incident was reportedly triggered by his growing financial debt and fear of eviction.
The Sentencing
District Judge Jason B. Billam sentenced the 42-year-old to:
- 188 months for attempted first-degree murder, and
- 165 months for second-degree murder.
These sentences will run consecutively, totaling 353 months behind bars. Richards will receive credit for the 558 days already served since the attack in September 2023.
Emotional Courtroom Moments
During the sentencing on Wednesday, Richards appeared emotional and tearful. His mother and sister spoke on his behalf, calling him a “good man who did a bad thing.” They argued that, although he must face the consequences, his children shouldn’t have to grow up without their father.
His sister claimed Richards had been dealing with untreated mental illness, which is now being addressed.
Richards expressed deep remorse, saying:
“My actions brought shame and pain to my family, my community, and myself. I was afraid to ask for help, and that fear led me down a dark path.”
The Shocking Incident
On September 16, 2023, police responded to multiple 911 calls just before 4 a.m. at the Richards’ home in Shawnee, a suburb of Kansas City. One child told dispatchers that “dad is chasing us with a knife,” and a smoke alarm could be heard in the background.
Police arrived to find smoke, injured family members, and a fire inside the home. An explosion blew out the garage doors. Three family members were outside, all suffering from stab wounds. Richards’ wife was in critical condition, and two children had severe injuries.
Richards later admitted to officers:
“I stabbed my family.”
He confessed he had hidden the family’s eviction from his wife. On the day they were to be evicted, he set a fire in the basement, grabbed a knife, and began attacking his family in what he later described as an act of desperation.
According to investigators, Richards stabbed:
- One son in the neck
- Another in the chest and abdomen
- A third in the colon, liver, neck, and back
- His daughter on the arm
All the children managed to escape and alert a neighbor, who called for help.
The Aftermath
Richards had been a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee since 2016 and was also a seventh-grade teacher at Christ Prep Academy. His church bio described him as someone who “loved teaching little kids about Jesus.” The church has since removed his profile from its website.
In a statement, Senior Pastor Kurt Witten of Crossroads Church said:
“The church is shocked and deeply saddened. This is a tragedy we never imagined. We are supporting the family and asking for prayers as they begin the long road to recovery.”
The church has set up a support fund to assist the family with medical care, food, and other needs.
Community Response
Neighbors were heartbroken, saying they often saw Richards walking with his kids and dogs. One neighbor told local media:
“It’s sad. You never expect something like this from someone who looked like a loving father.”