
After 23 years on death row, a police officer killer finally faced justice as Indiana carried out its second execution in 15 years.
The criminal who murdered Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney in cold blood during a foot chase in 2000 was executed by lethal injection Tuesday morning at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.
The execution of 45-year-old Benjamin Ritchie brings long-awaited closure to the family of Officer Toney and the entire law enforcement community.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita strongly supported the execution, stating that it properly honored Officer Toney’s ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, protecting the citizens he swore to serve.
Ritchie, who was 20 years old at the time of the crime, shot and killed Officer Toney while fleeing after stealing a van.
He had been on probation for a previous burglary conviction when he committed this heinous act against a dedicated public servant.
Officer Toney was the first officer killed by gunfire in the line of duty in Beech Grove, a community of 14,000 people.
Governor Mike Braun (R-IN) firmly rejected Ritchie’s clemency bid, citing his numerous prison violations and following the parole board’s recommendation.
The U.S. Supreme Court, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals all denied desperate last-minute requests from Ritchie’s legal team to stop the execution, reinforcing that justice would finally be served.
In his final moments, Ritchie requested a last meal from Olive Garden and expressed love and peace for his friends and family.
Furthermore, the execution occurred despite predictable protests from anti-death penalty advocates who attempted to use disability rights arguments to spare Ritchie.
His attorneys claimed he had fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and childhood lead exposure—claims that were thoroughly reviewed and rejected by multiple courts.
“It’s time. We’re all tired. It is time for this chapter of my story, our story, to be closed. It’s time for us to remember Bill, to remember Bill’s life, and not his death,” Officer Toney’s wife, Dee Dee Horen, expressed.
Indiana law allowed Ritchie five witnesses at his execution, including his attorney. The state resumed executions after a prolonged hiatus caused by a scarcity of lethal injection drugs, showing a renewed commitment to upholding justice for victims of violent crime.
Deputy Police Chief Tom Hurrle reflected on the lasting impact of Officer Toney’s murder: “Everyone of us involved, including Bill, had something stolen from them that they’ll never get back.”
The murderer’s execution was one of 12 scheduled in eight states this year, demonstrating that despite liberal efforts to eliminate capital punishment, many states still recognize its importance in delivering justice to victims and their families.
After numerous appeals and delays that kept Toney’s family waiting for 23 years, the system finally delivered the justice promised by the jury’s original verdict.
The execution of Benjamin Ritchie underscores not just a closure for Officer Toney’s supporters, but an ongoing dialogue about the effectiveness and morality of the death penalty.
Ultimately, it challenges communities to ponder justice’s true nature, balancing retributive desires with the complexities of the human condition.