Henrico County, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - A former Henrico police officer is facing life in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing his wife, 53-year-old Diane Crowder, and his stepdaughter, 35-year-old Carrie Szaksz.
Richard Crowder, 60, entered those pleas Wednesday, Feb. 14 in Henrico Circuit Court. He was on the Henrico police force as an officer with the K-9 unit from 1986 until 2014.
In July of 2022, Crowder opened fire on officers who responded to a shooting call at his Henrico home. This turned into a nearly 9-hour shooting an barricade situation.
“[That day,] Diane Crowder was in the process of leaving her husband, the defendant, and moving out of their home,” said Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor. “She had employed the help of her family, to include her daughter, Carrie Szaksz. During the move, with employees of the moving company upstairs and other family members outside the home, Richard Crowder opened fire on the two women, striking them each numerous times and killing them.”
Crowder is also facing charges of attempted murder of Henrico officers Kenneth Saunders and William Grimmer.
Crowder will be sentenced May 31. Until then, Crowder is being held without bond.
