Georgetown, SC – A 45-year-old South Carolina man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of the 2022 murders of his ex-girlfriend and his best friend, who had begun dating after the couple split.
Jealousy Turns Deadly
Prosecutors say Ronnie Todd Jr. was enraged when his ex-girlfriend, Emily Richitelli, 30, started dating his longtime friend, John Altman, 44. Evidence presented during trial included a series of disturbing text messages Todd sent to friends, in which he threatened to “blow their brains out” and burn down the house. In another message, he wrote, “I’m killing some people when I get home. No question about that.”
According to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Todd carried out his threat in the early morning hours of July 21, 2022, entering a Georgetown townhome and fatally shooting both victims.
Child Witness Identifies Shooter
The prosecution’s case was bolstered by testimony from Altman’s 9-year-old son, who was in the bathroom when the shooting began. He recognized Todd’s voice, telling jurors he heard someone say, “You want to talk trash?” before hearing eight gunshots.
The boy testified that his father screamed “Ron, Ron, Ron, Ron” before collapsing. After the attack, the child ran to a neighbor’s home, shouting, “My dad’s been shot!”, and identified Todd as the shooter to both the neighbor and 911 dispatchers.
Victims Remembered by Family
Emily Richitelli leaves behind a 13-year-old son. Family members described her as a devoted mother who had overcome drug addiction, worked two jobs, and turned her life around. Her sister, Christina Miller, tearfully recalled their last moments together, saying she never got the chance to tell Emily how proud she was.
Altman’s daughter also addressed Todd in court, saying her father was always there to support her and that he should be alive to see her succeed.
Swift Conviction and Sentencing
After a weeklong trial, the jury took less than an hour to convict Todd on two counts of murder. Circuit Court Judge Michael G. Nettles sentenced him to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, citing the premeditated nature of the killings and the presence of a child witness as aggravating factors.
What are your thoughts on the jury’s swift verdict in this double murder case? Share your opinion in the comments.
