Teens Tried as Adults in Revenge Killing

Two teenagers are set to be tried as adults in connection with the December 2025 killing of 20-year-old Milton Ritchie Jr. A 16-year-old boy was arraigned on July 20, 2026, on charges of complicity in murder and robbery. His 17-year-old codefendant was arraigned on July 13, 2026, facing similar charges along with tampering with physical evidence. Ritchie, a 2023 Male High School graduate, was discovered by Louisville police on December 20, 2025, with fatal gunshot wounds outside his vehicle.

Investigators believe Ritchie was lured to the scene by a 15-year-old girl involved in a revenge plot. She allegedly alerted 19-year-old Daontez Hodges Jr., who is accused of shooting Ritchie. While the 15-year-old girl remains in the juvenile system, Hodges, who surrendered to authorities, is facing a $1 million cash bond. He was previously on supervised release for a 2025 vehicle theft case, during which he fled from police and was found with a firearm.

Further complicating the case, Hodges was later involved in a New Year's Day 2026 incident where he allegedly stole liquor and assaulted a store clerk, requiring the clerk to undergo surgery. He faces additional charges of first-degree robbery and assault. A fifth defendant, Jill Allyn Brooks, the 51-year-old stepmother of the 17-year-old, is accused of deleting text messages and filing a false missing persons report. Brooks was released on her own recognizance.