Dena Riley pleads guilty to federal kidnapping charge

Riley admits that she and codefendant Richard Davis kidnapped a 5-year-old girl, one of his relatives, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch reports. They told the little girl they were going to McDonald's, but drove to Missouri and sexually assaulted her.

Riley and Davis, you probably remember, were accused of raping and killing two local women. Riley pleaded guilty to state charges last December in Jackson County. She's serving nine life sentences without hope of parole. Snip:

Authorities said that Riley, 42, and Richard D. Davis, 44, raped and sodomized the two women while holding them in an Independence apartment in April and May 2006. Tapes found in Davis’ apartment and his workplace showed the torture of the victims, who were bound at the time.

Davis and Riley killed Spicer in the apartment and dumped her nude body in a shallow Lafayette County grave. A Jackson County jury convicted Davis in her murder in August. He has been sentenced to death in that case.

Prosecutors allege that Davis took Michelle Huff-Ricci, 36, into Clay County woods, where he strangled and suffocated her before setting her body on fire. Her charred remains were found near Missouri 210 and Missouri 291. Both defendants still face murder trials in that case, and Davis again faces a possible death sentence.

The Crime Library has a history of the Riley-Davis case here.
A Mahalo page on Dena Riley.
America's Most Wanted on Dena Riley.

The text of the U.S. Attorney's press release is available after the jump ...

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Dena Delores Riley, 42, Independence, Kan., has pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

In her plea, she admitted that on May 25, 2005, she and co-defendant Richard Davis kidnapped a 5-year-old child who they took from Kansas to Missouri. In her plea, Riley admits the following:

– On May 22, 2006, the District Court of Jackson County, Mo., issued arrest warrants for Riley and Davis charging them with homicide in Missouri. On May 23, 2006, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri filed complaints charging Riley and Davis with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Federal arrest warrants were issued at that time.

– On May 24, 2006, Riley and Davis visited Davis’ half-sister, Jodee Bryant, at her home in Arcadia, Kan. Not knowing that Davis and Riley were wanted, Bryant invited them to stay the night.

– On May 25, 2006, a 5-year-old child who was a member of the family was allowed to join Riley and Davis on a ride to McDonalds for lunch. Instead of going to the restaurant, Riley and Davis drove the child to Missouri for the purpose of engaging in sex with her. When the child’s parents realized the girl was missing, they called police.

– At 4:45 p.m. May 25, 2006, Riley placed a 911 call to the sheriff’s office in Lamar, Mo. She told the dispatcher that she and Davis were going to kill themselves. She said they were drinking and taking drugs. Shortly after that, officers arrested Riley and Davis and took the kidnapping victim to the hospital for treatment. The child had been injured during the sexual assault.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 14, 2009. Riley faces a penalty of not less than 20 years and not more than life in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Barton County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Independence, Mo., Police Department worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Comments

[Brad]

Okay, I'll say it. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

[gee]

I know it's rhetorical, but what kind of thought process takes place with someone like this . . . "We're on the run, suspected of two murders--should we 'lay-low', or kidnap and molest a 5 yr.-old relative??"

[ssalex]

know it's rhetorical, but what kind of thought process takes place with someone like this . . . "We're on the run, suspected of two murders--should we 'lay-low', or kidnap and molest a 5 yr.-old relative??"

I suspect they figured they had nothing to lose/were going to be caught anyway, and a kid was on their "fantasy" list, and a relative was convenient..... it isn't as though they exhibit any sign of morality--drugging raping and killing a couple of women for fun... going after a kid was likely dessert for them.... Hope neither sees the light of day again.

[gee]

Yeah, I get that, but still--it's too bizarre to ponder--too much of a "in for a penny, in for a pound" mentality.

It's like a guy I once knew who believed he might as well go ahead and cheat on his wife with the woman he was lusting for, because (I quote), "according to the Bible, lust is just the same as adultery so the penalty is the same."

[Wisdom]

It's an addiction. Ever see the Kevin Costner movie "Mr. Brooks"? It shows what kind of addiction this can be and how people with this 2 way life style cope.

Pretty wild but I bet it is spot-on with the types these two are and many others who repeat offend. It's an addiction to it, whatever the case it may be burglary, drugs, drinking, raping, or murdering.

If you've ever tried to quit smoking or have quit.... think of what it was like to stop.... These unfortunate souls have a worse addiction.

[No One You Know]

That chick looks like a guy I went to high school with...yuck!

[Brad]

Do NOT enlarge the picture. It's too late for me, but you can still save yourselves.

[Tom K]

Why bother to prosecute this one? Lawyers will make a little more money and so on, but how many more life sentences without parole would be of any use? Missouri needs more money for public defenders, too.

[REALLY!?]

I thought the same thing Tom but then thought, with all the appeals that will be waged he might get off or at least get the DP dropped. Trying him again could make sure he fries.

Sure seems like this 'woman' should be up for the death penalty too. Skillicorn didn't pull the trigger but got the DP for being a part of two murders. This POS also thru in a child rape!?!? Why isn't she frying? Or course, the ladies in prison will probably take good care of her...

[No One You Know]

She looks like she might not mind the ladies prison.

[Searching]

Perhaps the proper sentence would be to throw her into the gen pop of the men's prison.

[FanDanGo]

You never can tell when a governor or president go all gushy and decide to commute someone's sentence (see Wayne Dumond out of Arkansas). Having convictions and lengthy sentences in several jurisdicitions reduces that likelihood.

[gary]

Dave Letterman & CBS have made an offer to have her on the show - by video linkup - as a guest. They plan to exchange rape and assault jokes with each other.