A former children’s pastor has admitted to serious charges after a shocking incident where he attacked his family and attempted to destroy their home. Matthew Lee Richards, 41, faced five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated arson following the event that occurred early in the morning on September 16, 2023, in Shawnee, Kansas.
Richards pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder. At the time, he was working as a children’s pastor at Crossroads Christian Church and was also involved with Christ Preparatory Academy in Lenexa.
Authorities responded to Richards’s home after receiving reports of violence and a fire. Firefighters quickly battled the blaze in the basement, where they discovered the extent of the chaos. His wife and five children, including a 19-year-old and four younger kids, suffered various serious injuries. One of the children had a severe abdominal cut that exposed internal organs.
Reports indicate that one child told police that they were asleep when their father began attacking them. After his arrest, Richards allegedly confessed to the crime, stating, “I stabbed my family.” He claimed that he had planned the attacks due to their impending eviction and believed it would be better for his family to die than face financial struggles.
Richards’s biography listed on the Crossroads Christian Church website, which has since been removed, described him as someone who loved teaching kids about Jesus and had a close-knit family. The church expressed shock and sorrow over the incident involving their former children’s pastor.
Richards is set to be sentenced on March 26, 2025.
