For Immediate Release
June 25, 2021
A Jackson County judge on Thursday sentenced Caitlyn Riffle to life in prison, plus 15 years, in the fatal shooting of Rodney V. Thurber whose body was found inside a 2nd floor apartment on Tracy Avenue in Kansas City on Nov. 11, 2017, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
In April, Caitlyn Riffle, dob: 2/28/992, was convicted of Murder 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action. The jury recommended life without parole plus 15 years. A codefendant in this murder, Patrick R. Powell, already has been convicted in the murder of Thurber. Powell was sentenced already to life in prison without parole, plus 10 years.
According to court records, a witness told Kansas City police that the defendant showed up to the house on Nov. 11, 2017, to get a gun from the victim. That was a short time before her codefendant pushed open the victim's door and shot the victim multiple times. The witness said the shooter taunted the victim and stated, "I"M Patrick...." Then he shot the victim again. Police used multiple surveillance video images after the homicide to identify Riffle and Powell. Police discovered the victim's final communication via text was with Riffle who asked him to open the door. Video surveillance established they were together in a vehicle in the area of the shooting.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Jeremy Baldwin and Jacob Hjelmaas prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncounyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.