In the early hours of a Thursday morning in July, the life of 44-year-old Amanda Thompson was tragically cut short in what authorities have described as a case of domestic violence. Residing on South Ogden Street in Buffalo, New York, the mother of four was shot and killed shortly after midnight on July 17, 2025. Her ex-boyfriend, 49-year-old Rickey M.
Crouch, was quickly identified as the suspect in her death, leading to a police search.
The search for Crouch culminated in a dramatic chase on the Thruway that afternoon. The pursuit ended after Crouch was ejected from his vehicle upon striking another car. Following an evaluation for injuries sustained in the crash, he was taken into custody by the Buffalo Police. His arrest, however, brought to light a disturbing history of alleged domestic violence incidents involving Thompson that had escalated in the months preceding her death. Court records revealed that Crouch had been arrested in May for allegedly breaking into Thompson's home, choking her in front of a child, and possessing an illegal handgun. He was released on bail and, just a day later, allegedly violated a temporary order of protection by driving past her home. Despite another arrest for this violation, he was released on his own recognizance.
Following his capture, Crouch was indicted on a felony count of murder and a violent felony count of criminal possession of a weapon. The charges were later upgraded to first-degree murder, with prosecutors citing his prior murder conviction from the late 1990s, for which he had served over 20 years in prison before being released on parole. In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Crouch faces a slew of other accusations, including second-degree murder, burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated criminal contempt, and endangering the welfare of a child.
As the legal proceedings began, Amanda Thompson's family voiced their frustration with the criminal justice system, questioning why Crouch was free to harm her despite the previous arrests and the order of protection she had sought. At his court appearances, where he was seen in an orange jumpsuit with his arm in a sling from the car crash, prosecutors detailed the extensive evidence collected against him, including digital files, surveillance footage, and body camera video. The case continues to move through the courts, with a trial date anticipated to be set as the community grapples with the loss of a mother and the circumstances that led to her violent death.
