Son of Alabama judge charged with killing girlfriend

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

MOBILE, Ala. - The son of a prominent Alabama judge is being held in jail on charges that he killed his girlfriend at their home in Prichard.

Richardson Johnson Kennedy, who is 22, was charged with murder Sunday in the death of 21-year-old Tylandria Rivers, who was shot in the head. The couple had a 1-month-old daughter. Al.com reports prosecutors Wednesday confirmed Kennedy's father was former Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Cain James Kennedy. He was the first black judge to serve in Alabama's circuit system and died in 2005.

Prichard police say Kennedy shot Rivers after she refused to give him codeine pills. Police say he tried to stage the scene to look like a home invasion.

Defense attorney Larry Moorer said Kennedy says he didn't kill Rivers, WKRG-TV reports.