On a tragic evening in Oak Park, Michigan, the life of 66-year-old Alice Collardai Richardson was abruptly and violently cut short. On September 14, 2016, a domestic dispute escalated to a horrifying conclusion, leaving two women dead and a family shattered. The series of events unfolded at a home on Church Street, where Alice's sister, 53-year-old Gay Richardson, was also found deceased.
Alice's husband, 61-year-old Abdulwajid Akhenaton, was quickly identified as the suspect.
According to reports, the violence erupted after Alice expressed her desire to separate from him. Investigators believe that Akhenaton first attacked Gay Richardson inside the residence. When Alice arrived at the home, she was shot and killed in her vehicle as she apparently attempted to flee the scene. Her daughter was reportedly in the car with her and managed to escape.
Shortly after the killings, Akhenaton turned himself in to the Oak Park Public Safety Department. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. During his arraignment, details emerged that Gay Richardson had been stabbed multiple times and her body was found under a mattress. It was stated that Akhenaton confessed to the crimes. He was denied bond and faced the possibility of life in prison if convicted. The devastating incident marked the first homicide in Oak Park in nearly two years.
