Matthew Lee Richards, a 42-year-old youth pastor from Kansas, has admitted to stabbing his wife and children due to impending eviction caused by his mounting debts. Initially facing five counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson, Richards pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. He is currently detained in the Johnson County Jail, with sentencing scheduled for March 26.
The incident occurred in the early hours of September 16, 2023, when emergency services received multiple 911 calls reporting a house fire and stabbing in Shawnee, a suburb of Kansas City. Callers reported a man, later identified as Richards, chasing family members with a knife. Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals with stab wounds outside the burning house, which subsequently exploded, blowing out the garage doors.
Investigations revealed that Richards’ wife, four sons, and daughter had all been stabbed. His wife, who had sustained multiple stab wounds, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Two of the children also suffered serious injuries. According to one of the children, the family was in bed when Richards began his attack, prompting them to flee the house.
Richards was removed from the burning house and treated for smoke inhalation. Once medically cleared, he confessed to investigators, stating, “I stabbed my family.” He admitted to concealing their dire financial situation and impending eviction from his family. In a desperate attempt to avoid eviction, Richards planned to burn down the house, setting the fire before arming himself with a knife.
The attack left his family with severe injuries. One son had a slash wound across his neck, another had stab wounds to his chest and a significant laceration across his abdomen, exposing internal organs. A third son had stab wounds to his colon, liver, neck, and back, while his daughter was slashed in the arm.
Neighbors reported hearing a commotion and finding the children at their doorstep, revealing that their father had stabbed them. Investigators found bloodstains throughout the house. The fire, which was contained by the fire department, was believed to have been started in the basement around a pile of clothing and wood.
Richards had been a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee since 2016 and was also a seventh-grade English teacher at Christ Prep Academy. The church and school have since removed his information from their websites. The church has established a fund to assist the Richards family with expenses such as medical treatment, food, and clothing.