A trip to St. Louis filled with the promise of joy for Kenneth Spalter and his wife quickly devolved into a nightmare on the evening of February 10, 2017. The 72-year-old man from Pound Ridge, New York, was in the city to meet his new grandchild. As he and his wife exited their vehicle on the 3800 block of Juniata Street, just south of Tower Grove Park, they were accosted by two men intent on carjacking them.
A struggle ensued, and one of the assailants fatally shot Spalter in the neck.
The tragic incident unfolded just before 10 p.m. Spalter was reportedly fighting with the robbers over a backpack that contained an iPad when he was shot. His wife and neighbors rushed to his aid, performing CPR until first responders arrived. Despite their efforts, Kenneth Spalter was pronounced dead at a local hospital. In the wake of the senseless violence, the Tower Grove Heights neighborhood rallied in support of the grieving family, holding a candlelight vigil to honor his memory.
An investigation led to the arrest of 16-year-old Richard Donaldson in connection with the murder. He was taken into custody for a separate robbery, but authorities were able to link him to Spalter's death. Donaldson was charged as an adult with second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, and stealing. He was held on a $750,000 cash-only bond.
In August 2017, Richard Donaldson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, robbery, and other charges. While he admitted his role in the robbery that led to the death of Kenneth Spalter, he did not identify the other two individuals involved. In February 2018, Donaldson was sentenced for his crimes. Accounts of his sentence vary, with some sources reporting a 30-year prison term and another stating he received a life sentence.
