Death Sentence Commuted for Texas Woman

A woman who originally received the death penalty for her part in a murder scheme has had her sentenced lightened to life in prison by a Tarrant County court, according to WBAP radio in Fort Worth.

Chelsea Lea Richardson was the first woman to receive the death penalty for the murder of her boyfriend’s parents, Rick and Suzanna Wamsley. She and three others were all involved in a scheme to kill the couple and get a cut of Andrew Wamsley’s inheritance.

Richardson's sentence was commuted because of prosecutorial misconduct during her trial.  Her appellate attorney, Bill Ford, who recently died unexpectedly, and Tarrant County prosecutors agreed that now-retired Mike Parrish withheld evidence.

Her sentence was commuted due to withheld evidence, or prosecutorial misconduct, during her prosecution. Tarrant County prosecutors are in agreement with her attorney that prosecutor Mike Parrish withheld evidence during her trial.

Richardson's mother, Celia Richardson, told WBAP that she still believes her daughter is innocent. "They're trying to sweep her under the carpet because they're corrupt."