In the late summer of 2011, a horrific act of violence shattered the quiet of a rural home near Morgantown, West Virginia, claiming the life of 49-year-old Charles Arthur Richardson III, a White male, and four others in a tragic mass shooting. On September 5, 2011, authorities were called to the residence to conduct a welfare check, where they discovered a gruesome scene.
Charles Richardson III, his 50-year-old wife Karin Richardson, her two children, 22-year-old Katrina Hudson and 17-year-old Kevin Hudson, and a man who lived at the house, 30-year-old Robert Raber, had all been fatally shot. Katrina Hudson was six months pregnant at the time of her death.
The man responsible for this devastating loss of life was identified as 22-year-old Shayne Riggleman. Reports indicate that Riggleman used a high-powered rifle to carry out the killings. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, and Charles Richardson Jr., the victim's father, stated he did not know of any connection between his son and the shooter. It was later reported that Riggleman's mother said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not taking his medication at the time of the incident. Charles Richardson III, an employee of FedEx, was described by his father as a "hard worker."
Following the murders, Shayne Riggleman fled the area, leading to a multi-state manhunt. His flight from justice included an incident in Pennsylvania where he allegedly ran over an elderly woman, and the shooting and wounding of a gas station attendant back in West Virginia. The pursuit ultimately ended in Kentucky where, facing capture by law enforcement, Riggleman took his own life. The violent end to the chase brought a close to the search for the suspect, but left a grieving community and devastated families in its wake. There were no arrests to be made in the case, as the sole suspect was deceased.
