Cyril Kenneth Richard II appeared in Missoula County Justice Court via video monitor from jail. Standing beside his attorney with one arm in a cast and sling, the business major listened as a judge read aloud the felony charges of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.
To see the complaint filed in this case, click here.
Richard told police he wrapped the body in a blanket, dragged it down two flights of stairs and loaded it into the hatchback of his green 2001 Subaru Outback. He then drove about 30 miles west of town and pushed the body off one of the Triple Bridges over the Clark Fork River, near Fish Creek. Detectives later found traces of blood on the edge of the bridge.
By late Friday afternoon, officials from Missoula and Mineral counties had called off efforts to locate Meadows' body. Due to the water's frigid temperature and the likelihood that the body sank, it's unlikely those search efforts will continue over the weekend.
“If we're going to find the body, it could be a while,” said Missoula Police Sgt. Travis Welsh, who added that the stretch of water could be hazardous to search boats and divers.
Meadows and Richard, known to his friends as Kenny, met in Wyoming and had been friends for some time, according to records. Meadows had been living in Richard's apartment for several weeks while he looked for a job in Missoula, applying at gas stations and fast food restaurants. Richard, whose father lives in Victor, worked at the Sports Authority on Reserve Street.
On Wednesday night, Richard and Meadows were hanging out at Richard's apartment, drinking and watching basketball games on television. The men went to a local bowling alley and drank about four pitchers of beer and six mixed drinks, then bought some 40-ounce bottles of Olde English malt liquor at a store and headed back to the apartment.
At some point, Richard apparently became angry because Meadows was unemployed and had not been pitching in for rent or other living expenses, and an argument ensued.
Richard told detectives the argument grew heated, and Meadows lunged at him with a pocket knife. Richard was able to wrest the knife away from his friend, he told police, but Meadows again lunged at him, this time while unarmed, and Richard stabbed him in the abdomen in self-defense.
Richard told investigators that after he threw the body off the old railroad bridge, which spans the Alberton Gorge, he returned home and discovered blood covering the stairs and walkway. He used several towels to clean up the mess, and put the rags in his washing machine.
Missoula police began piecing together the evidence around 5:50 a.m. Thursday, when a resident of the Copper Run Apartments called 9-1-1 to report the blood trail.
The caller said she was getting ready for work and noticed her neighbor scrubbing the walkway outside her third-floor apartment, according to records. The caller then went outside and discovered what looked like a bloody drag trail.
The rust-colored path led away from the front door of Richard's apartment, along a walkway and down two flights of stairs, then disappeared at an empty parking space facing Mullan Road.
When police traced the blood back to the apartment, Richard appeared at the door, a strong odor of bleach emanating from the walkway and a washing machine running behind him. The police turned off the washing machine.
Richard was treated at a local hospital for injuries, including a broken arm and cuts on his chest, before detectives brought him to the station for interviews.
At the hospital, police noticed a tear slide down Richard's cheek, and a nurse asked what was the matter. According to records, Richard replied, “I wish it had not happened.”
Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech set Richard's bail at $500,000.
Richard's attorney, Peter F. Lacny, with the law firm Datsopoulos, MacDonald and Lind, said he would arrange for a bail hearing before a judge in Missoula District Court.
If convicted of the charges, Richard faces a term of life in prison.
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