Varina man pleads guilty to murdering wife, stepdaughter

A Varina man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the first-degree murders of his wife and stepdaughter in July 2022.

Richard Crowder, 60, pleaded guilty in Henrico Circuit Court to the charges against him and also entered an Alford plea to the attempted aggravated murder of Henrico County Police Officer Kenneth Saunders and Henrico County Police Officer William Grimmer (maintaining his innocence but conceding that sufficient evidence existed to incriminate him).

Diane Crowder was in the process of leaving her husband, and her daughter (Carrie Skaksz) was helping her move out of the home the couple shared in Varina July 2, 2022. Richard Crowder then opened fire on both women, while professional movers were upstairs in the home and other family members were outside. Both were struck numerous times and died.

Saunders, one of the officers who responded to the shooting, also was shot in the incident shortly after getting out of his police cruiser. He was able to avoid further injury by taking shelter behind the vehicle.

The other officer, Grimmer, also responded to the scene and tried to help Saunders. His vehicle also took fire. Crowder faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on each charge. He is being held without bond and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31.