Hyannis man indicted in stabbing murder outside house party

Press Release Plymouth District Attorney

 

            BARNSTABLE – A Hyannis man was indicted late yesterday on charges that he stabbed and killed a man outside of a house party in Hyannis in October, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a Barnstable County Grand Jury returned a Murder indictment and two Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon indictments against Kelly D. Ridley Jr. (DOB: 2/27/98) of Hyannis.

            At 1:57 a.m. on October 22, 2016, Barnstable Police received multiple 911 calls from witnesses at a house party at 133 Beth Lane in Hyannis, reporting that a person had been stabbed. Upon arrival, police found the victim, Thomas J. Russell Jr. (DOB: 5/23/90), seriously wounded with multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and lower body, lying in the middle of the road in front of that address. Russell was transported to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced dead of his injuries.

Barnstable Police immediately contacted State Police Detectives assigned to the Cape and Island’s District Attorney’s Office and an investigation commenced. In order to avoid the appearance of a conflict, the Cape and Island’s District Attorney referred the case to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office because the victim is a close relative of a person within their office. Over the following hours, days, and weeks, investigators gathered and preserved possible forensic evidence, executed search warrants, reviewed electronic data, and interviewed dozens of witnesses.

 The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Russell’s death was a homicide caused by multiple sharp, stab wounds to his abdomen and lower extremities

            In addition to the Murder indictment, Ridley was also indicted for striking the victim with a metal Razor scooter prior to the fatal altercation. He was additionally indicted for stabbing Michael James, a resident of 133 Beth Lane, who Ridley allegedly stabbed when James attempted to break up the fight in which Ridley allegedly stabbed the victim, Russell.

Ridley is currently being held without bail and will be arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court at a later date.

 

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jessica Elumba and Thomas Flanagan and was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office and Barnstable Police.

 



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