Former Henrico police officer who pleaded guilty to murdering his wife and stepdaughter is sentenced

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A former Henrico police officer accused of murdering his wife and stepdaughter The verdict is expected on Friday morning.

According to online court records, Richard Crowder of Henrico County faces three charges: two counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder of a police officer.

On Saturday, July 2, 2022, Henrico Police Officers responded shortly after 9:30 a.m. to a report of a shooting in the 7600 block of Phillips Woods Drive.

Police told 8News that shots were fired both inside and outside the house.

The Henrico County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the cause of death of his wife, 53-year-old Diane Crowder, and his stepdaughter, 35-year-old Carrie Szaksz.

The office told 8News that Diane Crowder was in the process of leaving her husband, confirmed as defendant Richard Crowder. She had help from her family and employees of a moving company who helped her move out of her and Crowder’s home. One of the people who helped her move was her daughter, Szaksz.

During the move, Crowder opened fire and shot both women. At the time, the moving company employees were upstairs in the house and the family members were outside. The two men who were working inside were able to escape the house unharmed.

When Henrico Police arrived at the scene, Officer Saunders was said to be the first on the scene with his patrol car marked and lights on. The office told 8News that numerous shots were fired at the vehicle, shattering the driver’s side window.

Saunders reportedly lay on the ground to take cover as shots continued to be fired, with assistance from Officer Grimmer and other police officers.

Officer Grimmer’s vehicle is also said to have been hit by gunfire.

The barricade situation lasted nearly nine hours. Crowder eventually left the house while on the phone with police and was arrested before 6:30 p.m. that same day.

The Henrico County District Attorney’s Office points out that Crowder faces the maximum sentence of life in prison on all counts.

Crowder’s sentencing begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 31.

The former police officer worked with the Henrico Police Division’s K-9 unit from October 1986 to November 2014.