Details of the Crime

On Friday, December 16, 2005, Charles Riddle, 22, of Olathe, Kansas, gained entrance to Nigel Marcotte's home through an open garage door. Riddle's intent was to burglarize, but he was armed with a knife. When Marcotte came home unexpectedly, Riddle attacked him with a knife. Marcotte fought back but his attacker kept coming at him, stabbing him several times, leaving Marcotte severely bleeding and mortally wounded. Marcotte died on Monday, December 19, 2005, from his wounds at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He worked as a manager of Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill in Leavenworth, Kansas. (Lenexa, KS (population: 34k) is a suburb southwest of Kansas City, KS, and Olathe (population 64k) is about five miles farther south.)

The attack happened at about 1:15 p.m. in the 13800 block of West 109th Street, close to Rene Street. After having been stabbed, Marcotte telephoned his wife and told her what had happened. She called 911 and then drove home. When the police arrived, investigators said it appeared that there had been a considerable struggle in the living room of the home. "Furniture was knocked over and there was blood everywhere," said Detective Derrick Pierce.

According to police, Marcotte left his home about 8 a.m. on December 16 and returned early that afternoon. Shortly afterward, he left the house on foot to take one of his daughters to a neighbor’s house.

There was no indication of trouble when Marcotte’s wife called him at about 1 p.m. from her cell phone, police said. However, 17 minutes later he called her back telling her that he had been stabbed and to call 911.

His wife stayed on the line with 911 dispatchers as she drove from roughly 119th and Pflumm Road to her home. As she pulled up, she saw her garage door open. She asked a neighbor to go inside with her. They found Marcotte injured and bleeding in the living room. Pierce said Marcotte was able to talk to his wife, but police have declined to release details of the conversation. A few moments later, police arrived and found furniture knocked around and blood in at least four areas of the home’s main level.

 

Lenexa police arrested Riddle last week; prosecutors originally charged him with identity fraud and unlawful use of a credit card issued to Marcotte. Riddle is accused of trying to use the card to buy food, gas and possibly alcohol. Riddle is scheduled to make an appearance in Johnson County District Court Thursday, January 26. Riddle is being held in the Johnson County jail.
 

Charles Riddle, 22, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary and is being held on a $1 million bond. If convicted, Riddle would face 25 years to a life sentence in prison.
 

According to the Johnson County District Attorney's office, Riddle's only criminal history is being charged as a minor in 2000 for battery and disorderly conduct. Those charges were dropped after Riddle, a 2001 graduate of Olathe North High School, entered a diversion program.
 

Investigators are continuing to review additional evidence from the crime scene. Lenexa police Detective Derrick Pierce said he could not comment on whether there is a previous connection between Marcotte, 42, and Riddle, or if a murder weapon has been found.

“From everything we can come up with it was random,” said Lenexa Detective Derrick Pierce.

A person who answered the door at Charles Riddle’s home on Tuesday, January 10, said no one wished to comment.

Police believe Riddle acted alone in the slaying.

One of Riddle's neighbors said that the charges are shocking and that you couldn't meet a nicer kid.

Marcotte's widow was said to be relieved that an arrest had been made in the case.

Riddle had never been charged with burglary before and had no history of committing any serious crime, said Rick Guinn, an assistant district attorney for Johnson County. Riddle was charged as a juvenile in 2000 with battery and disorderly conduct, court records show, but he was allowed to enter a diversion program so the charges would later be dropped.

The killing illustrates how a simple burglary can have serious consequences, Guinn said. “Emotions are running high and people do things you wouldn’t expect,” he said.
Riddle graduated from Olathe North High School in 2001. He attended Johnson County Community College for two years but did not graduate, according to the college.
 

Neighbors said Marcotte was a good friend, and Detective Pierce said he was "one of the good guys."

Police said Marcotte had no known enemies. However, as a manager of an Applebee's restaurant in Leavenworth, he recently fired some employees for performance reasons, but it did not appear Marcotte was on bad terms with the workers.

Marcotte is survived by his wife and two daughters.

First Court Appearance

Charles K. Riddle of Olathe made his first court appearance Thursday, January 12, 2006, since being charged with the murder.

Riddle, 22, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and attempted burglary in the December 16 killing of Nigel Marcotte. Authorities allege that Marcotte had interrupted Riddle while Riddle was burglarizing his house and Riddle repeatedly stabbed him.

Attorney Ryan Ginie appeared on Riddle’s behalf. He said afterward that he was there on behalf of attorney Trey Pettlon, who will represent Riddle.

Johnson County District Judge Thomas Bornholdt scheduled Riddle’s next court date for January 26 at 11:00 a.m.

A friend of the Marcotte family had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.