MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – An Indiana man convicted of murdering a police officer in 2000 is set to receive a lethal injection on Tuesday, marking the state’s second execution in 15 years.
Benjamin Ritchie, 45, has spent over two decades on death row after being found guilty of the fatal shooting of Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney during a foot chase. Unless there is last-minute legal action, the execution is scheduled to take place “before the hour of sunrise” at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.
Indiana resumed executions in December following a lengthy pause due to a national shortage of lethal injection drugs. State officials provided limited details about the execution chamber, which resembles a minimal operating room equipped with a gurney and fluorescent lighting.
Among the 27 states with death penalty laws, Indiana is one of only two that prohibit media witnesses. The other state, Wyoming, has conducted a single execution in the last 50 years. A federal lawsuit has been filed seeking media access.
Ritchie’s execution is part of a broader wave of 12 scheduled across eight states this year. This week also sees executions planned in Texas and Tennessee.
At the age of 20, Ritchie stole a van in Beech Grove and opened fire on Officer Toney during a chase, resulting in Toney’s death. Ritchie was on probation from a previous burglary conviction at that time.
Officer Toney, just 31 years old, was the first officer in his department to be killed by gunfire while on duty. The community mourned him as a dedicated public servant and family man.
Deputy Police Chief Tom Hurrle reflected on the impact of Toney’s death, stating, “Everyone of us involved… had something stolen from them that they’ll never get back.”
Relatives of Officer Toney recently expressed their desire for the execution to proceed. Toney’s widow, Dee Dee Horen, stated, “It’s time for this chapter… to be closed.”
Ritchie’s legal team has contested his death sentence, arguing that his trial lawyers failed to adequately investigate and present evidence regarding his mental health issues, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and childhood lead exposure. His attorneys claim he has suffered “severe brain damage” and struggles with decision-making, compounded by a bipolar disorder diagnosis.
Governor Mike Braun rejected Ritchie’s clemency request last week, noting that the parole board found his case did not meet the criteria for commuting a sentence and cited multiple violations while incarcerated.
The Indiana Supreme Court denied a request to halt the execution, although two justices remarked that the jury did not receive complete information about Ritchie’s brain damage.
Advocates for disability rights argue that Ritchie’s mental health history should exempt him from the death penalty. Dr. Megan Carter indicated in a statement that Ritchie’s ability to understand the wrongness of his actions was impaired at the time of the crime.
As Ritchie faces execution, he has spoken of the remorse he feels for his actions and their profound impact on others. He has been visited by family and friends in his final days, and state law permits him up to five witnesses during the execution, which will include attorneys and loved ones.
“I’ve ruined my life and other people’s lives, and I’m so sorry for that night,” he expressed during a recent hearing. “You can’t take back what you did.”
