According to police in Kansas, a Shawnee youth pastor allegedly tried to kill his wife and five children Sunday in a brutal attack. Matthew Lee Richards, 41, reportedly stabbed his family before he set their home on fire. Richards, all five of his children, and his wife, Stephanie, were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Richards most recently served as a youth pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee. His church family released a statement offering prayers to the victims and condemning Richards' alleged heinous behavior.
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Emergency crews responded to a call about a house fire.
A release from the Shawnee Police Department noted that police and firefighters arrived at the home in the 6600 block of Goode Drive just before 4 a.m. on September 16. Crews located a fire in the home's basement and quickly extinguished it. Authorities found the children and Stephanie Richards with injuries needing treatment.
Emergency personnel took the family to area hospitals.
The release explained that Richards and his family went to the hospital for medical help.
"The victims sustained laceration injuries of varying degrees. One adult woman and two juveniles remain at area hospitals receiving treatment. A 19-year-old and two other juveniles have been released from the hospital," police shared in the statement.
Police quickly identified Richards as a suspect and placed him under arrest.
The father of five recently served as a youth pastor.
Richards' bio on the Crossroads Christian Church website that has since been removed painted a picture of a loving family man married to his wife for more than 20 years. The bio shared that the couple has four boys and one girl and lives by three family rules: 1. Love God, 2. Love People, 3. Love Sports (especially the Jayhawks and Sporting KC). He reportedly enjoys pizza, chocolate chip cookies, and drinking Coke.
Church officials are heartbroken over the tragic incident.
Crossroads Christian Church offered prayers for the victims and said it will provide support and helpful resources to the family. Church officials asked that members respect the family's privacy and pray.
"The Crossroads Christian Church family is shocked, sickened, and saddened by Saturday morning's events involving our former children's pastor. This is a tragedy beyond what any of us could have imagined," the statement reads. "We give our full cooperation and support to the Shawnee Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department as they conduct their investigation."
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Members of the congregation have shared their disbelief and prayers.
The church's post garnered much attention, with many commenting their shock.
"Praying for the victims of this terrible and unfortunate tragedy. May the Lord cover you with His abundant love and grace as you walk through these difficult times ahead?" one follower wrote.
Many agreed that the family needs prayers, even the alleged attacker. "The victims need prayer for healing, emotional and financial support, and need to be surrounded by love. The person who did this needs prayer as well, though the specific asks of God may be more of a mystery here," another comment reads.
"My heart is just sick. I am praying for the Richards family, the church family and all that are affected. May God bring comfort today and the weeks to come," one church member prayed.
Police said Richards was being held on a $5 million bond, charged with five counts of attempted murder and a single count of aggravated arson with risk of bodily harm.
Richards appeared in court via Zoom on Monday and the court appointed him a public defender, the Kansas City Star reported. He is due to return to court September 29.
