Indiana man to be sentenced for involvement in murder in 2022 after taking a deal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A Floyd County, Indiana man is set to be sentenced for his role in the killing of Richard Bell, a man who was shot and killed during a drug deal in 2022.

Previous coverage

• Second arrest in murder case at the end of March
• Southern Indiana man charged with murder in Louisville in March

Deion Griffey, 28, of New Albany, will be sentenced on October 29, 2024, after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting murder and robbery on September 4, 2024. The Commonwealth recommends a total sentence of 30 years for the charges.

On March 28, 2022, Griffey and Rickenya Wilson, 27, of Louisville, were charged with conspiring to rob and kill Bell during a marijuana purchase. An arrest warrant for Wilson states that she called Bell's girlfriend at the time and asked if she knew anyone who sold marijuana. When Wilson and Griffey learned that Bell knew someone, they made plans to trap and rob Bell.

Wilson and Griffey were accused of conducting a drug deal with Bell and drove with a third suspect to his home on Parthenia Avenue. According to court documents, Griffey pointed the gun at Bell while he was collecting the marijuana and told him to “give him everything” and “stop playing.”

Within three seconds, Bell was shot in the head, according to documents. Griffey took the marijuana and left with Wilson and the other suspect. Bell died of his injuries two days later at the University of Louisville Hospital.

Wilson pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting murder and robbery on July 23, 2024, and was sentenced the same day to five years in prison for aiding and abetting murder and ten years for aiding and abetting robbery. She will serve a total of ten years in prison.

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