Do you know who murdered Darien Richardson? In the quiet, early morning hours of January 8, 2010, the life of 25-year-old Darien Richardson, a mixed-race female, was irrevocably altered. She and her boyfriend, Corey Girard, were asleep in their Portland, Maine apartment on Rackleff Street when the terrifying sound of intruders bursting into their bedroom shattered the peace. A masked figure opened fire, striking Richardson in the hand and leg. The bullet that entered her leg traveled up her thigh and lodged in her hip.
Girard was also shot but his injuries were less severe.
Initially, there was hope. Richardson survived the attack and was hospitalized for her injuries, spending three days in the ICU and 18 days in critical care. She was expected to recover. However, seven weeks later, on February 28, 2010, tragedy struck. Richardson died from a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that formed as a complication of her gunshot wound. Her promising life, filled with a love for music and dancing, and the pursuit of a master's degree in education, was cut short.
The investigation into Richardson's death has been a long and frustrating journey for her family, and it remains an unsolved homicide. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with her murder. The case is complicated by a number of factors, including the belief by Richardson's parents that her boyfriend, Corey Girard, was the intended target of the home invasion. Court records revealed that Girard admitted to dealing large amounts of Oxycodone between New York and Maine. In 2015, Girard pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of marijuana and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
A significant breakthrough in the case came when the handgun used to shoot Richardson was found at the scene of another, unrelated murder just weeks after her death. Forensic testing confirmed it was the same weapon. However, this lead quickly hit a dead end. The original purchaser of the gun told investigators he had sold it privately to someone he did not know, a transaction that at the time did not require a background check or record-keeping in Maine. This loophole in the law has been a source of immense pain for Richardson's family, who have become advocates for stricter gun safety measures. The family has offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Darien's death, but still, they wait for justice.
