Ky. man who orchestrated his family's killings avoids death penalty
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Kentucky man charged with orchestrating the slayings of his parents, sister and an acquaintance who was enlisted to kill the family has avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty Thursday to four counts of murder.
The agreement calls for Ryan Champion, 38, to be sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole.
Prior to his arrest In the days after the October 2014 killings in western Kentucky’s Trigg County, Champion appeared on CBS affiliate WTVF and pinned the crime on 22-year-old Vito Riservato, saying Riservato tied up him and his sister and held them at gunpoint. Champion said his parents returned home during the attack and that he was the sole survivor.
Champion said he survived because he “turned the tables” and fatally shot Riservato.
Prosecutors have said the investigation revealed it to be a murder-for-hire scheme with a twist: Champion sought Riservato’s help in carrying out the slayings, and then Riservato was also killed. Champion was arrested about five days after the slayings.
“It was an awful case. There’s nothing good that can be said about this case or the facts of it,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins. She said the remaining family members sought “closure and certainty” with the plea agreement.
Ovey-Wiggins declined Thursday to comment on the details of the case before Champion’s sentencing Jan. 27. She said she could have secured a death sentence for Champion, but the family did not want to endure the years of appeals associated with execution cases.
In Champion’s own account to media, he said he was at the home with his parents, Lindsey and Joy Champion, and sister Emily when Riservato entered the home and started shooting. He said at the time he had only met Riservato once before the shooting.
Champion posted updates on Facebook, saying he had survived and was recuperating, with later updates saying he was in need of money and seeking odd jobs.