Office of the Attorney General: A.G. ANNOUNCES CONVICTION FOR BLOUNT COUNTY MURDER

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

August 01, 2008

(MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Troy King today announced that Ricky Dion Sanders has been convicted of murder for repeatedly shooting Richard McGuffey in the back on October 11, 2003, in Blount County.

Following a trial that began on Monday and concluded yesterday afternoon, a jury in Blount County Circuit Court deliberated for about 2 hours before finding Sanders guilty of murder. Sanders was immediately taken into custody and sent to the Blount County Jail. He faces a penalty of 20 years to life imprisonment at his sentencing on October 23.

"With today's conviction, we send a message that murder must be met with severe punishment," said Attorney General King. "Sanders responded to his perceived personal grievances with an act of brutal violence. That cannot be tolerated. This decision says it will not be."

The Attorney General's Office presented evidence that Sanders was involved in domestic disputes with his ex-wife over child support payments and that the ex-wife had sought a protective order to keep him away from her home. Sanders' ex-wife, Gladys Sanders McGuffey, was living with the victim in a common-law marriage. Sanders argued with his ex-wife on October 7, bought a 9 mm pistol on October 8, quit his job on October 9, and sold his tools from his trade as a mechanic on October 10. Sanders also wrote a letter to his parents stating that he was tired of paying child support and working for other people to have a good time at his expense.

On October 11, Sanders went to 329 Davidson Drive in Locust Fork where his ex-wife and McGuffey resided. McGuffey was bending over to put a compact disc into a player when Sanders shot him twice—in the back and in the head---from about 12 feet away. Sanders walked up to McGuffey and shot him twice more in the chest. He waited for police to arrive and told them that he was tired of working and paying for other people to benefit from it. In subsequent statements to police, Sanders continued to state he shot McGuffey, but never claimed that he was in fear of his life or in any way provoked.

The Attorney General's Office presented evidence that included testimony of law enforcement officers about Sanders' statements, neighbors who saw Sanders outside with the gun and heard the shots, and Sanders' own uncle who was at the residence and saw Sanders fire the last two shots. Although Sanders' defense at trial was that the shooting was done in self-defense and under provocation, his own testimony at trial contradicted that claim. Sanders testified that McGuffey had not threatened him, was not facing him, had no weapon in his hands, and was bent over when Sanders shot him.

Sanders was indicted for the murder in 2004, but due to the subsequent election of a new district attorney who had been Sanders' defense attorney, the case was later referred to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution.

Attorney General King commended those involved in bringing the case to a successful conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Andrew Arrington and Pamela Casey, and Special Agents Danny Billingsley and Jeff Chandler. He also thanked the Blount County Sheriff's Office for its investigation and assistance in the case.