A former children's pastor from Crossroads Christian Church in Kansas City has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his wife and children in a shocking case that has shaken the local Christian community.
Matthew Lee Richards, 43, admitted to two counts of attempted murder after initially facing multiple charges, including attempted capital murder and aggravated arson, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The plea was entered on Tuesday 11th February, as reported by The Christian Post.
The case stems from a violent attack that took place in the early hours of 16th September 2023, at the family’s home in Shawnee, Kansas.
Emergency services responded to reports of a disturbance and a house fire at 3:47 a.m. where they found Richards’ wife and children suffering from serious knife wounds.
Two of his children and his wife were hospitalised, while three other children were treated and released.
According to police reports, frantic 911 calls were made from inside the home, with one caller reporting that their father was chasing them with a knife, while another reported being stabbed.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the house engulfed in smoke. Moments later, an explosion blew out the garage doors.
In an affidavit, one of Richards’ children recounted how their father attacked them while they were sleeping, forcing them to flee.
Following his arrest, Richards—who had also been working as a seventh-grade English teacher at Christ Preparatory Academy since 2020—confessed to the attack, reportedly telling investigators, “I stabbed my family.”
The motive behind the attack appears to be linked to the family’s financial struggles.
Court records show that their home had been foreclosed after Richards and his wife, Stephanie—who was the director of Crossroads Christian Preschool and Parents Day Out—fell behind on their mortgage payments.
The property had been sold in June 2023, and authorities believe Richards attempted to cover up the eviction by setting the house on fire.
Richards is due to be sentenced on March 26.