FAIRMONT, W.Va. – A plea deal has been reached and Marion County Judge David Janes has ordered no mercy in the beating death of a Fairmont child in 2021.
Walter Richardson, 36, agreed to enter a “no contest” plea in exchange for charges of child abuse by a parent or guardian resulting in death being dismissed. Judge Janes ruled Tuesday there will be no mercy and Richardson will serve life in prison without possibility of parole for the first-degree murder charge.
Richardson was taken into custody in March 2021 when the child was taken to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital with injuries consistent with child abuse. The charges were upgraded to first-degree murder and child abuse, resulting in death days later when the child died.
The child’s mother, Ashlee Allen, was sentenced to 5 to 35 years for having knowledge of the abuse and failing to report it.
Also, two former CPS workers who failed to report the abuse, Breeana Bizub and Tabetha Phillips-Friend, pleaded no contest in January 2022 of last year and have agreed to pay restitution.