Man who killed his ex and her grandmother goes to prison, SC prosecutor says
A South Carolina man is going to prison after being convicted of murdering his ex and her grandmother, according to the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
On Sept. 11, a Richland County jury found 33-year-old Dontrell Rufus guilty of two counts of murder and first-degree burglary, the Solicitor’s Office said in a news release.
Judge Christopher Taylor sentenced Rufus to three life sentences in a South Carolina Department of Corrections prison, according to the release.
The conviction is connected to the deadly April 20, 2020 shooting of 28-year-old Kiara A. Richbow and her 76-year-old grandmother Sarah Mae Richbow, the Solicitor’s Office said.
On April 20, 2020, Rufus arrived uninvited at Kiara Richbow’s home, where she was inside with their two daughters, Sarah Richbow and niece, according to the release.
Rufus’ cousin tried, several times, to defuse the conflict before he forced his way into the home, where he shot Kiara twice and Sarah once, the Solicitor’s Office said. Both later died from their injuries, according to the release.
The home is in the 2500 block of South Partridge Circle, near the intersection of Starling Goodson Road and Lower Richland Boulevard. That’s about 8 miles from what Richland County court records listed as Rufus’ residence in Columbia.
No other injuries were reported.
After the shooting, Rufus left the home then abandoned his truck and attempted to dispose of evidence linking him to the fatal shooting, the solicitor’s office said. Following a manhunt, Rufus was taken into custody the following morning, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said in 2020. He was located and arrested in the 4000 block of Broad River Road, according to the sheriff’s department, which led the investigation into the double homicide.
There was no word about a motive for the shooting.
Deputy Solicitor Dan Goldberg and Assistant Solicitors Gabbie Sharp and Nick Fowler led the prosecution for the Solicitor’s Office. Columbia attorney Megan Eigenbrot, a public defender, was listed as Rufus’ lawyer, Richland County court records show.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
