Jeremy Scott Ritchie is seen in this booking photograph provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department from Nov. 24, 2013.For someone agreeing to serve 30 years in prison, Jeremy Scott Ritchie seemed as composed as anyone could be. Before he left court, though, he wanted to apologize.
Ritchie, a burly 41-year-old, turned to face the gallery in Hamilton County Criminal Court. He stared at his family members, sitting among the many people gathered for Tuesday's docket. Then he turned his attention to Crystal Perry Ostrum, his ex-girlfriend, forever 38 after authorities say Ritchie fired nine shotgun rounds into the Soddy-Daisy trailer she was sharing with her new husband in June 2014.
"I apologize," Ritchie said. "I loved her with all my heart. We tried for a long time to love each other. I love y'all, I hope you forgive me."
Raising his shackled hands, Ritchie continued. "I'm sorry to my family," he said. "I love y'all. And I hope you love me and forgive me."
A wave of sniffles sounded from the gallery before Ritchie was led away.
Prosecutor Lance Pope said Ritchie will serve 30 years for second-degree murder. Although Ritchie can earn 15 percent good-time credits in prison, "that sentence is to be served at 100 percent," Pope told Criminal Court Judge Don Poole.
Ritchie also pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and took a 15-year sentence that will run at the same time as the 30-year term.
Pope said the state would drop other charges including attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment, aggravated domestic assault and public intoxication. Those stem from him allegedly smashing Ostrum's head into a car dashboard in November 2013, the impact so hard it caused bleeding on the brain, archives show. Lastly, federal prosecutors will not indict Ritchie on gun charges since he pleaded guilty to the state counts, Pope said.
Standing before the judge, Pope described the 2014 attack that left one dead and two injured.
Cody Ostrum and Crystal Perry Ostrum had been married less than two weeks. On June 29, they were sleeping in their home at Mimosa Trailer Park at 8783 Dayton Pike. Also in the home were a 10-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man.
Ritchie went to the trailer with a shotgun, stalking around the outside, firing through the walls. Crystal Ostrum was hit and died. The boy and the 21-year-old were wounded.
As Ritchie fled the scene, Cody Ostrum called out his name. A witness called law enforcement.
Ritchie made his way to a hunting cabin where he eventually was arrested and confessed. A shotgun Soddy-Daisy police found on a nearby mountain road was matched to the shots at the trailer.
Public defenders Steve Brown and Kevin Loper had pending motions to suppress Ritchie's confession when their client agreed to plead guilty and end the case.
Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at zpeterson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow @zackpeterson918.