In April of 2019, 45-year-old Denise Miles was tragically found deceased in her Muncie, Indiana, home. A relative discovered the scene on a Sunday afternoon and immediately contacted the authorities. When police arrived at the residence near West Timothy Way and West Thornburg Drive, they found Ms. Miles, her 14-year-old daughter Rylee Ritchie, and 58-year-old Casey Ritchie, all of whom had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
The ensuing investigation by the Delaware County Sheriff's
Department concluded that the incident was a double murder-suicide. Authorities determined that Casey Ritchie shot and killed both Denise Miles and their daughter Rylee before turning the gun on himself. Autopsies confirmed that Ms. Miles died from multiple gunshot wounds to the back, and her death was officially ruled a homicide. Her daughter, Rylee, was also a victim of homicide, having been shot twice in the chest.
The investigation into the deaths of Denise Miles and her daughter concluded that Casey Ritchie was the sole suspect. Since he took his own life after committing the murders, no criminal charges were filed, and the case is considered closed. The evidence indicated that the tragic events took place sometime between Wednesday, April 24, and Saturday, April 27, 2019. Investigators did not publicly comment on a possible motive for the killings.
