A Kansas children’s pastor has been sentenced to 29 years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of his family. Matthew Lee Richards had been a pastor on staff at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee prior to the incident that led to his arrest.
Richards was accused of attacking his wife and children with a knife before setting his home on fire in an incident that took place on Sept. 16, 2023.
The victims included Richards’ wife and five children, four of whom were minors. His eldest child was 19 years old at the time.
On the night of the crime, police received a 911 call about a house fire. A child also called 911 saying that the father was chasing them with a knife, and another caller told police she had been stabbed.
When police and other emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they discovered three victims with stab wounds waiting outside for help, and smoke could be seen coming from inside the house.
Firefighters soon extinguished the fire. Richards’ wife and two of his children were rushed to the hospital with critical injuries. His adult child and two other children were treated for minor injuries.
During questioning, Richards admitted to setting the home on fire and attempting to murder his family. His home was in foreclosure, and rather than telling his family of their dire financial situation, Richards said he thought it was better to end their lives.
“I stabbed my family…I stabbed my kids, detective. I stabbed my wife,” Richards said during the interview. He also referred to himself as a “monster.”
Richards was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder with premeditation and one count of aggravated arson with the risk of bodily harm. In February, Richard pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder as part of a plea agreement.
Matthew Lee Richards and His Family Address the Court During Sentencing Hearing
At Richards’ sentencing hearing last week, Richards’ mother and sister addressed the court to speak on Richards’ behalf.
Turning to Richards, Richards’ mother said, “My little boy yesterday, my friend today, my son forever.”
