MICHIGAN CITY, IN – The execution of Benjamin Ritchie early Tuesday morning marked the conclusion of a long legal journey that began with his conviction for the murder of a Beech Grove police officer. Ritchie, who had been on death row since 2002, was executed at the Indiana State Prison after numerous appeals to commute his sentence to life imprisonment were denied.
Ritchie was pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m. CDT on May 20, 2025. His final words expressed love and gratitude for his family, friends, and supporters, wishing them peace. Outside the prison, family members of Officer Bill Toney, the victim, joined the Beech Grove community in a somber vigil, raising blue glow sticks in remembrance as they left the site.
Steven Shutte, one of Ritchie’s attorneys, described the moments leading up to the execution. “He looked at us, smiled, and waved before lying back down,” Shutte recounted, highlighting the calm demeanor Ritchie maintained in his final moments.
Governor Mike Braun, who had recently denied Ritchie’s clemency request, issued a statement affirming the thoroughness of the judicial process. “Since Benjamin Ritchie’s conviction in 2002, his case has been reviewed multiple times by both state and federal courts, including the Indiana Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, without an overturned sentence,” Braun stated.
Mark Koselke, who represented Ritchie in his final legal battles, expressed disappointment with the outcome. “We continue to believe, as did half of the Indiana Supreme Court, that Ben’s execution was inappropriate,” Koselke said, citing Ritchie’s profound brain damage and developmental disabilities as factors that should have been considered.
Ritchie’s case had been a focal point for debates on capital punishment, mental health, and the justice system’s handling of individuals with cognitive impairments. Supporters argued that executing someone with Ritchie’s mental condition was unjust, while opponents maintained the severity of his crime warranted the death penalty.
The execution has reignited discussions on the broader implications of capital punishment, particularly concerning defendants with significant mental health issues. Advocacy groups are calling for renewed scrutiny of the system, urging reforms to prevent similar cases in the future.
As the community reflects on the events, the story of Benjamin Ritchie serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and controversies that continue to surround the death penalty in the United States.