TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Benjamin Ritchie, 52, was executed by lethal injection at the Indiana State Penitentiary on Tuesday for the murder of Muncie Police Officer Bill Toney in 2000. The execution marks Indiana's second in 15 years, reigniting the debate surrounding capital punishment in the state.
Ritchie was convicted of fatally shooting Officer Toney during a traffic stop on January 9, 2000. Prosecutors argued that Ritchie shot Toney to avoid arrest on outstanding warrants. The defense maintained that Ritchie was not the shooter, but the jury found him guilty of murder.
Appeals to the Indiana Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court were unsuccessful. Ritchie continued to assert his innocence until his death.
Officer Toney's family was present at the execution. A statement released after the execution expressed their relief that justice had finally been served. "While nothing can bring Bill back, we hope this brings some closure to this long and painful chapter," the statement read.
The execution has spurred renewed discussions about capital punishment in Indiana. Supporters of the death penalty argue that it serves as a just punishment for heinous crimes. Opponents argue that it is a cruel and unusual punishment and that there is a risk of executing innocent people. Indiana's last execution before Ritchie's was in 2009.
Indiana Executes Man for 2000 Murder of Police Officer
Benjamin Ritchie was put to death in Indiana on Tuesday for the murder of Muncie Police Officer Bill Toney in 2000. The execution, carried out by lethal injection, was the state's second in the last 15 years. Ritchie maintained his innocence until the end, but the courts upheld his conviction. The case sparked renewed debate about capital punishment in Indiana.