Overview

• Benjamin Ritchie, 45, was executed at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City for the 2000 murder of Officer Bill Toney during a foot chase.
• The execution occurred early Tuesday morning, with Ritchie pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m. following a last-minute Supreme Court denial of his appeal.
• Ritchie’s attorneys argued his severe brain damage from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and childhood lead exposure should exempt him from the death penalty, but clemency was denied.
• Officer Toney’s family, including his widow, sought closure after 25 years, emphasizing the need to honor his life and service to the community.
• Indiana remains one of two states barring media witnesses at executions, prompting ongoing legal challenges from press organizations citing First Amendment concerns.