Questions linger in Kentucky shooting that left 4 dead
CADIZ, Ky. - A man who initially claimed to be a victim in an attack that left his parents, sister and another man dead, was arraigned on murder charges Monday and ordered held on $5 million bond.
Ryan Champion, 36, is charged with four counts of capital murder in the deaths of his mother, 60-year-old Joy Champion; his father, 62-year-old Lindsey Boyd Champion; his sister, 31-year-old Emily Champion and an acquaintance, 22-year-old Vito Riservato. He is also charged with kidnapping Emily Champion. An arrest warrant says he bound her hands feet and face with duct tape before shooting her in the head.
Autopsies revealed all four died of gunshot wounds. Their bodies were found at the Champion's residence in Cadiz, Ky. on Oct. 26. Authorities haven't commented on a motive.
Police were called to the home after Ryan Champion went to a relative's house across the street from the scene of the crime and asked to contact police.
Authorities later said they weren't looking for a suspect in connection with the deaths and that one of the deceased was believed responsible.
A day after the shootings, Ryan Champion told CBS affiliate WTVF that Riservato was responsible for the attack. He told the station Riservato, who he described as "a new person to all of us," tied him and his sister up and held them at gunpoint.
Champion said his parents returned home during the attack, and that he was the sole survivor.
Champion wasn't named a suspect in the killings until Friday, when he was arrested and charged.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Jay Thomas told 48 Hours' Crimesider on Tuesday that he can't comment on what led authorities to arrest Champion, citing an ongoing investigation. He did say, however, that Riservato is still a suspect in the case, despite him being deceased.
Thomas says the investigation revealed Riservato "briefly met" the Champion family in the days prior to the murders.
"We know he was at the residence sometime that week before the incident occurred," Thomas says.
There are conflicting reports as to how long Riservato and Ryan Champion knew each other, but a woman named Ann Plotkin, who says she is a longtime friend of Ryan, told WSM-TV she introduced the two several weeks ago. She says Ryan Champion and Riservato had been working together on a tiling job in the days leading up to the shooting.
Riservato's roommates, however, reportedly told the station Riservato had been friends with Ryan Champion for years and said they believe Riservato is being framed.
Ariel Lower, one of Riservato's roommates, reportedly said someone had approached Riservato about killing someone for an "extreme" amount of money a week before the shooting. Authorities wound not comment on this.
Ryan Champion's next court date is scheduled for Nov. 13.
