He was known for leading Bible studies and mentoring kids in church.
To everyone around him, he seemed like a devoted family man.
But on September 16, 2023, he did something unthinkable.
That morning, Richards attacked his wife and five children with a knife, then set their home on fire.
The criminal investigation that followed uncovered his shocking motive and the lies he'd been hiding.
Let's get into the details
Background of the Case
Matthew Lee Richards was a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee, Kansas.
He led children's programs and taught Sunday school in this mega-church, as reported by PEOPLE.
He also worked as an English teacher at Christ Preparatory Academy.
He and his wife Stephanie married in 2003 and had five children together - four sons and one daughter.
Richards looked like a happy and stable man but financially, he was drowning.
He had credit card debt of over $87,000 and his family was facing eviction due to their delayed mortgage payments.
The family lived in a suburban home purchased in 2018.
Official records show the family began facing house payment issues in 2021 leading to legal action.
By August 2023, the court had issued an eviction order for them to leave on September 16 — the same day Richards committed the attack.
According to criminal Investigators, Richards's wife Stephanie Richards was not aware of his financial issues because she had separate bank accounts.
Despite these private financial difficulties, Richards continued his pastoral and teaching duties without observable changes in behavior.
Coworkers and church members reported no behavioral changes or signs of distress in the weeks leading up to September 2023.
The children's school records showed normal attendance and academic performance through the start of the 2023 school year.
Church's financial records confirmed he received his full salary with no history of pay disputes.
Tragically, his secret money problems set the stage for the tragedy that unfolded on September 16, 2023.
The Day of the Attack
Around 3:45 a.m. on September 16, 2023, Matthew Richards carried out his violent plan.
While his wife and five children slept in their Shawnee home, Richards took a knife and attacked each family member in their beds.
One of the children later told police they woke up to their father stabbing them.
Another child managed to escape to the garage during the attack and called 911.
After the attack, Richards then set fire to the basement of the home.
Emergency responders arrived at the house at 3:47 a.m. after receiving multiple calls about both a disturbance and a fire.
Firefighters quickly put out the fire in the basement while police and medical personnel attended to the injured family.
Richards' wife and the children suffered different types of stab wounds.
Some were life-threatening while others were minor cuts.
According to police reports, one child had a deep cut in their abdomen which exposed their internal organs.
Richards later confessed to the crime saying “I stabbed my kids, detective. I stabbed my wife,” he told police.
Medical crews treated him for minor smoke inhalation before he was arrested and taken into custody.
Criminal investigations later revealed that Richards planned the attack that morning because his family was supposed to be evicted that day.
He also confessed that he planned to burn down the house after the attack and that "It would be better if they all died than find out the truth."
So instead of telling his family about the eviction and his money problems, he decided to kill them all and hide his secret.
Justice For The Victims
Matthew Lee Richards was arrested on September 16, 2023, the same day as the attack.
He was charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of arson for setting the house on fire.
He was held in jail on a $5 million bond while waiting for trial.
In February 2025, Richards changed his plea from not guilty to guilty for two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
This was part of a plea agreement with prosecutors that dropped the other charges.
On March 26, 2025, the judge sentenced Richards to 29 years and 5 months in prison.
Under Kansas law, he will have to serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Additionally, the court ordered him to have no contact with his family as part of his sentence.
Its really unfortunate that a respected pastor, husband, and father chose violence over honesty.
Now, he has left his family physically and emotionally scarred forever.
In the end, no crisis justifies such violence—especially against those who placed their trust in him.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
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