Episode 265: Holidays in Hell: The Richmond New Year’s Murder Spree

For many people around the world, ringing in the new year brings with it the promise of new hope, a fresh start, and renewed possibilities. But each year of Ricky Javon Gray’s short life brought only violence, brutality, and death ending in a shocking murder spree over New Year’s weekend 2006.  Sources:  “The Visitors” by Melissa Scott Sinclair for Style Weekly, October 20, 2010. https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/the-visitors/Content?oid=1381013 “Man convicted of grisly murders of Virginia couple, daughters” Associated Press, August 17, 2006.  “String of Slayings Shatters Richmond” by Carol Morello for The Washington Post, Jan 15, 2006. “Gray v. Commonwealth”, Supreme Court of Virginia, Decided June 8, 2007. Retrieved from FindLaw.com.  “Cold Blooded” on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1M87CT1Tk “Lawyers describe childhood abuse as ‘sexual slavery’ as they argue Ricky Gray should be spared from death” by Gary A. Harki for PilotOnline.com, Dec 13, 2016.  “Ricky Gray’s execution took more than 30 minutes. His attorneys want to know why” by Rachel Weiner for The Washington Post, Jan 19, 2017.  “Virginia Becomes First Southern State to Abolish the Death Penalty” by Samantha O’Connell, AmericanBar.org, March 21, 2021.  Sponsors:  Best Fiends - Download Best Fiends for FREE on the App Store or Google Play. Hunt a Killer - www.huntakiller.com/once and use code ONCE for December discounts and limited edition merchandise.  Parade - Get up to 45% off with code BFONCE at https://yourparade.com/BFONCE.  Wondery - The Vanished - Follow The Vanished on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or listen early and ad-free by joining Wondery Plus.  Smile - Smile, the hit horror movie is now streaming on Parmount+. Head to paramountplus.com to try it free.  Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime to listen to all episodes ad-free and gain access to bonus episodes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices