Suspects in Richmond officer’s death plead guilty

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ)-There is a major development Friday afternoon in a Richmond police officer’s murder case.

Raleigh Sizemore and Gregory Ratliff just pleaded guilty to the charges they’re facing in connection to officer Daniel Ellis’ murder.

That means Sizemore will avoid the death penalty. Instead, he will serve life in prison with no chance of parole. Ratliff will face a combined total of 30 years in prison for his charges.

Officer Daniel Ellis was investigating an attempted armed robbery at a gas station when he was shot in fall 2015.

He went into Gregory Ratliff’s apartment where Raleigh Sizemore has now admitted to shooting him in the head. Ellis was 33-years-old.

Sizemore was charged with firing the fatal shot. Ratliff was accused of letting Ellis walk into his apartment where he knew there was a danger.

When asked if they wanted to say anything, only Sizemore spoke, saying a simple “I’m sorry”.

Ellis’ widow Katie thanked the community in a speech to the court.

She said she fully supports the plea deals, but nothing can bring her husband back.

Ellis’ father and brother don’t like the deals. His brother even asked the judge to consider rejecting it, but he said he’d follow Katie Ellis’ wishes.

“You took my husband, the love of my life from me. You took the loving father away from my son. You almost shattered my faith in God,” Katie Ellis said.

As court ended, the Commonwealth’s Attorney spoke to the crowd, explaining he didn’t pick a plea deal because he doesn’t value police officers’ lives, but because he thought it was best for Ellis’ young son.