Warren County Jury Acquits Former Cheerleader of Aggravated Murder and Manslaughter After Rittgers Defense

In May 2017, eighteen-year-old Brooke Skylar Richardson gave birth alone at her family home in Carlisle, Ohio, less than two days after her high school prom. She had concealed the pregnancy, which developed alongside a diagnosed eating disorder. When she disclosed the birth to her OB-GYN two months later, she told the doctor the baby had been stillborn and was buried in her backyard. Police were notified, remains were recovered, and Richardson was interrogated by detectives without an attorney present.

Warren County prosecutors charged her with aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child endangerment. The state's theory was that Richardson killed the infant to avoid the consequences of single motherhood. A forensic pathologist testified on the prosecution's behalf that the baby died from 'homicidal violence.' Circumstantial evidence included internet searches Richardson had conducted, text messages sent to her mother, and evidence of efforts to clean up blood in her room.

Charles H. Rittgers and his son Charles M. Rittgers built the defense around the stillbirth account Richardson had given from the beginning. The defense called a Cincinnati psychologist who testified that Richardson's dependent personality disorder made her particularly vulnerable to manipulation during police questioning, and that some of her incriminating statements reflected that dynamic rather than guilt. Richardson rejected a plea offer in July 2019 that would have removed the murder charge but carried up to fifteen years in prison, choosing instead to go to trial.

The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated approximately four hours before returning its verdict on September 12, 2019. Richardson was acquitted of aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child endangerment. She was convicted on a single count of abuse of a corpse, the only charge rooted in the undisputed fact that she had buried the infant's remains.

At sentencing the following day, Judge Donald E. Oda imposed three years of probation and seven days in jail, with credit for time already served, allowing Richardson to leave the courthouse that afternoon. The judge stated that he believed her account that the baby was stillborn, though he described her choices surrounding the birth as showing 'a grotesque disregard for life.' Charles M. Rittgers told reporters after the verdict that he 'truly believed she's innocent,' while noting the jury's not-guilty finding was distinct from a formal declaration of innocence.