The Antelope Valley Times

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Palmdale man convicted of racially motivated murder

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Richard Ritchie (Image from 2004 handout courtesy LA Times)

A 39-year-old former white supremacist was found guilty Thursday of the racially motivated murder of an African-American man 17 years ago, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

The jury deliberated about five hours before finding Richard Phillip Ritchie of Palmdale guilty of the first-degree murder of 32-year-old Howard Garfield McClendon.

The jury also found Ritchie guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, and they found true the special circumstances that McClendon was murdered because of his race and lying in wait.

In July 1997, McClendon was beaten with a baseball bat, chased into the desert and stabbed so many times he was nearly decapitated. The Los Angeles resident’s skeletal remains were found about three months later, said Deputy District Attorney Geoffrey Lewin with the Organized Crime Division who prosecuted the case.

The murder remained a mystery until 2003, when investigators received information that led them to the suspects, according to media reports.

The prosecutor said Ritchie and a female co-defendant, Kelly Jean Sorrell, lured McClendon into a car and drove him down a dirt road to attack him so Sorrell could receive “lightning bolt” tattoos, a supposed badge of honor for white supremacists who kill African-Americans.

Sorrell, 37, testified against Ritchie after earlier pleading guilty to one count of first-degree murder and admitting the hate crime allegation. She will be sentenced to 29 years to life in prison on Friday, Dec. 19.

Ritchie is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole when he returns on Feb. 6 for sentencing.

A third defendant, Ritchie’s younger brother Justin, was found not guilty by a jury in 2009.

Richard Ritchie is already serving a state prison sentence of more than 38 years for his conviction in a string of home-invasion robberies in 1999. He was convicted in 2001 of robbery, false imprisonment, grand theft auto and burglary. In 1996, Ritchie was convicted and sentenced to 16 months in prison for arson involving a cross burning.

The murder case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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[Information via press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.]

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

40 comments for "Palmdale man convicted of racially motivated murder"

  2. Do you forget that I was with him he will always love me I guarantee it the only time he doubts me is when you tell your lies and yes Justin admitted to another inmate that yes in his words “I killed that [removed]” don’t forget I have all Justin and Richard’s paperwork don’t get me started on the truth and when I go see him u will see how stupid you sound people this woman dosnt know anything Justin and Kelly did this and It’s funny that your story is so ads backwards

    • Key word here Erica “was”! I never lied to him about you and you know it. Plus it doesn’t even matter, he found out your true colors all on his own. I really don’t have anything more to say or add to you and your sister. I no longer need to play these immature drama games with either one of you. Katelyn I will not disrespect you as you have me, for you are my husband’s niece and I value and respect family. Your sister, on the other hand, is not his family. And she is full of hatred. I don’t know what’s happened to you Erica in your lifetime, and I truthfully don’t care, but leave me and my husband out of it. We have done nothing to you. That’s it girls, I’m done with all this nonsense.

  3. White supremacists; the only thing that’s supreme about them is their cowardice! When people are filled with hate, and they are stupid, well that’s dangerous. Cross burning in Littlerock in 1996, then running, leaving behind I.D. and the words hail Hitler; home invasions, imprisonment, kidnapping and ultimately brutally murdering an African American. Now what usually happens, comes the finger pointing, and minimizing their actions and placing the blame on someone else. Oh yes, and the comment that Mr. McClendon was trying to buy crack, so you can victimize the dead victim. You can’t just shut up, accept the consequences and move on. Maybe these people can turn their lives around in the penitentiary and be productive behind walls.

    • And where did u learn of all this: Let me guess…the media! And let’s just for argument’s sake say all his past crimes are true, that still does not make him a murderer! How hard is it for people to understand the woman confessed to this murder? She and she alone murdered that poor guy. Obviously people like you don’t realize how corrupt the legal system is. She took a plea bargain in exchange for her testimony against him. So she places blame on him to get a better deal…hmm I wonder if that was told to the jury! Ha I doubt it, because people rather believe this man is guilty over the woman who confessed. Come on people!!

      • I didn’t guess anything Tina. I know all about the legal system, and I also know you have an agenda, which of course is a lie. I’m not going to get caught up with this anymore. Justice has been served, so there is nothing more to talk about. She did not do this alone Tina, and you know it. You can never manipulate the truth.

        • I have an agenda?? My only agenda is for the truth, which is he is NOT guilty. You don’t know anything about me, so don’t start placing judgement on me by calling me a liar. Think and believe all the lies you choose, that’s your perogative. Justice has not been served and never will be until he is free, and his family and friends will continue to fight for his freedom. The only ones manipulating the truth are the media and people like you who believe such bull. Of course, it’s much easier to blame and believe someone like Richard committed this murder…the woman is incapable of such an act on her own right? Yea sure, that’s why she confessed, but later changed her story for a better sentencing deal. You and people alike are the very reason innocent people are rotting away in our very overcrowded prison system.

        • Your right, She didn’t do it alone, But it wasnt richard, It was his younger brother, That bitches (Tina) HUSBAND! She wasnt there either so shes just saying what HE TOLD HER witch are LIES so yah.

  4. Richards is innocent and he is not a racist. All the home invasions he committed were against white, blonde people. All the girls he attacked at night while they slept were blonde girls. There is no way he committed that crime against an African if he only robbed and assaulted whites.

  5. As for all of you saying this man gets what he deserves, well none of you were there either and know absolutely no thing of this man. All you have to go by is the media [removed], and media is known to make more out of something than what it actually is. Richard will be the first to tell you he’s not proud of his past, but he never murdered anyone! The girl in this case, Kelly, admitted to the murder, but in exchange for a plea deal she testified and blamed things against Richard. The whole situation is a mess, and in no way did the victim deserve what happened to him, but people do not know the facts, and need to stop placing judgement on someone they know absolutely nothing about. Yes Richard had a life a crime, but murder is NOT one of them!

    • Richard is innocent and I can prove it. He only burglarized blonde people’s homes and he only attacked small blonde girls while they slept. There is no way he can be a racist since he never burglarized the homes of Africans. He is innocent and the crime was committed by a drug dealer.

      • Andrew I appreciate your comment that Richard is innocent, but he also has never committed any attacks on females. So I don’t know why you say that.

        • Tina, they might try to accuse him of desiring African women and I needed to settle the argument in a worst case scenario before they start to argue something they dont know. In a worst case, they might try to accuse him of forcing African girls to have sex while they sleep and it aint true.

  6. erica I agree Richard is 100 percent innocent. But stop accusing Justin of things against him. Justin did not testify against him, he was subphoenaed and had no choice but to testify. Apparently u don’t know much, because Richard was ok with Justin’s testimony and they were happy to see other other. And as far as Richard coming home to “our family”, he wants nothing to do with you, so get over yourself already. He is on good terms with Justin and they love each other very much, neither of them are guilty of this crime. So quit making my husband out as a bad guy against his brother.

    • Ok BITCH You come at my sister ONE MORE TIME and Ill go off, YOU are not part of this FAMILY This is MY FAMILY and MY SISTERS FAMILY! Just cause your married to him dont make you family. Richard has told us everything about what happened and I can tell you Justin is NOT innocent. And hey news flash last I spoke with Richard he said he would absolutly LOVE to see erica and hes completly IN LOVE with her. So STFU with your dumb ass, not knowing [removed], self. He told me hed always be there for Erica and wants her in his life. So next time you think you know everything… dont say [removed] cause you dont know [removed]! GOODBYE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Ok [removed] , you must want yo [removed] beat . Dnt ever come at my cousin like that you [removed] . That’s sad how you’re talkn down on yo own family smh , who tf does that. You’re lame as [removed] . I’m from the bay try me if you want to , we do thangs a lul different bby girl. Now come at my cousin again & imma beat yo [removed] you lame [removed] . & as for Erica [removed] you’re ugly as [removed] so I know yo manly lookn [removed] ain’t talkn [removed]. Y’all [removed] must be bored sittn here talkn [removed] bout yo own family , grow tf up you weak [removed] .

  7. I love how the articles about the white power guys always brings out all their “brothers” and “sisters” to so eloquently defend them.

    Class acts ya’ll, definitely shows how all “whites” are superior.

    /Sarcasm – Written by a white male.

  8. The innocent project will not help because the technicalities of his case. But thank you The” victim”was trying to buy crack and Kelly and Justin hatched their plan Richard had nothing to do with his death or the conspiracy or lack of in this case people who read articles like this say something about the accused that is not fairly judged because they are unaware of the truth he’s a man that will never have a life with his family because 5 people listened to a Bull [removed] story about an alleged white supremacist for two days and decided that he was guilty of something he didn’t do and was a part of the decision to lock him up for the rest of his life only God should be able to condemn man not man

    • The innocent project will not help because Richard Ritchie is a vicious racist cold blooded killer with a rap sheet as long as my arm. Was Richard innocent of burning the cross in 1996 in the name of white supremacy too? Was he innocent of committing the string of local home invasion robberies he was convicted of in 1999 too? Breaking into all those people homes and terrifying the good people of the Antelope Valley? Shame on you for defending this DEMON! Then you have the audacity to put parentheses around the word victim in your comment, as if to imply that the man beaten, stabbed and almost decapitated just for being black was not actually a victim. You are absolutely shameful!!! You are also a liar!! According to the media reports I read, the victim Howard McClendon was on medication for emotional problems and was very trusting. He was not trying to buy any crack! He trusted those racist jackasses and they murdered him in cold blood because of the color of his skin. You’re right about one thing. Richard Ritchie shouldn’t be locked up for the rest of his life. He should be put to death!!!!!

      • [removed] all u he didn’t do it they got the wrong person the ones that did it testified against him for something they did

      • Dude shame on you for actually believing the media, Yah he was THERE at the time of that cross burning but that dont mean he actually burned it, And it sure dont make him a killer, [removed] you saying he needs to be put to death, he didnt kill ANYONE

    • Where yu there? how do yu know all da details? maybe yu should get arrested for accessory….Richard deserves what he get ol racist bastard

      • Were u there? U don’t know anything either. We know this man and he is not racist. He was convicted based on his other crimes, not because there was evidence of him murdering this guy. People believe the lies the media puts out there. There is one person and one person only guilty of this murder and that is the female involved. Don’t judge based on media content (lies).

  9. Good riddance to stinking bad garbage. Racist trash comes in all COLORS and we have plenty here in the AV. I would love the see the family setting which these monsters came from. Yep the other brother did it & he was framed by his own brother. Well the AB will get another member if he is not already a member in the AB Club/Gang. 2 Lightning bolts = SS, (Nazi crap). I know he is great loving man and I do not know him per his love ones, well we do not need to know him, his actions speak volumes to us all. The victim is still very DEAD. Beaten to death and almost decapitated, that is a WHOLE LOT of HATE.

  10. No compassion for the innocent victim, I see. Just imagine. You are walking along
    minding your own business, thinking about going to see that new action flick, with
    your friends.
    Little did you know, or possibly comprehend that a group of sociopaths, the USA
    equivalent of the Taliban, has noticed you. They stalk you. They learn your routine,
    they communicate by cell, walky talky. They want to kill you!!
    How can we get him alone? They hatch a plan. Nothing can dissuade them.
    They would use a woman to lure this time, but they would use anyone to get
    you, their family members, kids, anything.

    Conspiracy, solicitation, hate crimes, enhancements, multiple counts, even communication across state lines, prompting federal charges, won’t stop them.

    Their sick agenda is set. And sorry to say, these kinds of groups still exist in
    the Antelope valley, with only their fear of life sentences, holding most of them
    back.

    R.I.P for the victim here. And for the population in general? Watch your back

    • There’s definitely compassion for the victim and his family. That’s exactly why they should receive the justice they deserve for this horrible crime.

  11. He did not commit this crime his brother did and got not guilty Kelly was the main cause of that man’s death along with Justin why dosnt the news tell the true story I love this man and he was falsely convicted

    • Thank you!! I haven’t talked to him in some time now, but last I did, he was so confident that he wouldn’t be convicted based on the truth. I am heartbroken.

      • He was one of the men that was honestly innocent and blamed for something he did not do. And for the record it was never said he Richard did anything for his “lightning bolts” that was Kelly and many other things about the articles upset me because they are not true. He is a good man and is being falsely imprisoned and I will do whatever I have to untill the day I die to prove his innocence. This girl lied and his brother as well Richard had a family to come home to our family and I can’t stand the ignorant people who just say what they want and do what they want and convict who they want don’t get me started on the way they treat inmates in the county and he took it all with stride and a smile

        • Erica, please contact the innocence project. They help people that are wrongly convicted. I understand others anger about this case, after all, an innocent man was murdered for nothing. But there’s also an innocent man now convicted for nothing. Justice was NOT served for either side. I pray the real truth prevails for BOTH sides.

      • Uhm Uncle pride who were you refering to as “Bitch” Cause if it was my sister you wont ever hear anything from me again, YOU will NOT disrespect her like that.

    • erica I agree Richard is 100 percent innocent. But stop accusing Justin of things against him. Justin did not testify against him, he was subphoenaed and had no choice but to testify. Apparently u don’t know much, because Richard was ok with Justin’s testimony and they were happy to see other other. And as far as Richard coming home to “our family”, he wants nothing to do with you, so get over yourself already. He is on good terms with Justin and they love each other very much, neither of them are guilty of this crime. So quit making my husband out as a bad guy against his brother.