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Self defense claimed in killing of former county commissioner

Chief detective says deadly force not necessary

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The man accused of murdering former Fayette County Commissioner Charlie Mask more than two weeks ago told police he did it in self-defense during an altercation stemming from a sexual encounter, police said Friday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Bruce Jordan, chief detective for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, declined to go into further details, but he indicated that Thomas Allen Richie’s story may not be consistent with the physical evidence on the scene.

Jordan added that no bruises or cuts were observed on Richie after he was arrested Monday in Rockwall, near Dallas, Texas, on a traffic stop.

Mask’s actions during the altercation leading to his death “didn’t rise” to the point where deadly force was necessary, according to the evidence gathered so far, Jordan said.

Mask and Richie had known each other approximately a month before the killing, Jordan said. He also confirmed that the two men had been involved in a “romantic relationship.”

Mask’s body was found naked, but for a pair of socks, in a bed in the motor home, police said.

After the murder, Richie took Mask’s truck and drove it to Atlanta, where it was later found near the home of some of Richie’s relatives, Jordan said.

There is also evidence that Richie took money from Mask before fleeing the scene, Jordan said, adding that he believes Richie took other items from Mask as well.

Mask was found dead Sept. 9 in a motor home on land he owned off McBride Road, in the south-central part of the county. He had been dead for two days, police said.

That gave Richie plenty of time for a head start on a getaway, as he ultimately hitchhiked his way to Texas, Jordan said.

Jordan said Mask died after he was struck in the head several times with a concrete block. Mask and Richie were introduced by a mutual friend and Richie served as a handyman for Mask, Jordan said.

Richie, 33, has been cooperative with authorities, Jordan said, but he wouldn’t reveal whether Richie had “confessed” to the crime. Jordan said he felt Richie would ultimately be indicted on the murder charge.

Richie believed Mask took him under his wing as some sort of apprentice, Jordan said. He added that Richie was being paid by Mask, but it was unclear if the payments were for the handyman work Richie performed.

Richie appeared in court Friday afternoon where Magistrate James A. White declined to set bond on the murder charge and the theft by taking (motor vehicle) charge.

Only a superior court judge can consider bond in a murder case, White noted, and because of the serious nature of the murder case, the magistrate said he also denied bond on the theft case.

Richie remained silent during most of the hearing but he spoke just before he left, asking:

“Do I take guilty or not guilty?”

White told him that hearing would occur at a later date. Jordan confirmed that Richie was on medication to calm his mood, which was initially described to Jordan as “fits of rage.”

Jordan clarified that he had Texas authorities stop the medication overnight so he could interview Richie the next day without him being under the influence of the drug.

Richie apparently had a drug problem but it didn’t play into the killing, Jordan said, other than that drug problem was what put him in the circumstances he was in prior to the killing.

During the press conference after the court hearing, Jordan pulled a few punches when reporters pressed for more details about the case.

After saying Richie told him the killing was in self-defense, Jordan declined to elaborate, saying it was better for Richie if his attorney would speak on his behalf.

Jordan said Richie has applied for a court-appointed attorney, which means he is petitioning that he doesn’t have an income to afford a lawyer.

Jordan also speculated that had Richie had a lawyer in court today, he would have sought to work out some sort of guilty plea.

Authorities may also modify the charges against Richie’s stepmother Glenda Welch, who lived in Wylie, Texas and twin brother Rodney Richie of Jonesboro. Both were arrested for one felony count each of hindering the apprehension of a criminal.