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Jury Convicts Murphysboro Man of Killing His Parents

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Jackson Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Keith Ritcheson

A Jackson County jury Thursday found a Murphysboro man guilty of killing his parents in their home last year.
The Jackson County State's Attorney's office says 41-year-old Keith Ritcheson will be sentenced on the first-degree murder conviction on November 9th. Since he was found guilty of killing more than one victim, Ritcheson must serve of term of natural life in prison.

On August 14th, 2017, Ritcheson called 9-1-1 to say he returned home to find his parents both dead in their Murphysboro home from gunshot wounds.

Ritcheson later admitted to shooting his father Burl, but claimed his father shot his mother, Brenda.

PREVIOUS STORY:           SEPT. 2017

A southern Illinois man has been indicted on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his parents.

Keith Ritcheson was indicted Thursday by a Jackson County grand jury in the deaths of Burl and Brenda Ritcheson of Murphysboro.

Prosecutors claim that on August 14, the 40-year-old Ritcheson called 911 to say there were two people, possibly dead, in the home he shared with them. He was arrested later that week.

The indictment charges Ritcheson caused the death of Burl and Brenda Ritcheson by shooting them.

If convicted, Ritcheson could be sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for each victim.
 

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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