According to Commonwealth’s Attorney G.L. Ovey authorities believe Ryan Champion enlisted 22 year old Vito Riservato to commit the crime of murdering his entire family. Champion then decided it was best to kill him and move forward with the crime himself causing the death of his parents Lindsey and Joy Champion, and 31 year old sister, Emily Champion. All four victims were found on the floor of the family’s home in Cadiz with gunshot wounds to the head. Prosecutors admit that they are unclear who the main shooter is. Later on, Champion stated to the media that he had met Riservato once before the murders. He posted updates on Facebook after the slayings, saying he had survived and was recovering from the tragic incident. Champion later posted that he was in need of money and looking for odd jobs to pay for bills and gas after the tragic incidents.

“In a murder for hire, he would’ve got paid, but … he was murdered,” Ovey said.

Champion begins his explanation blaming Riservato, who was reported to be the main shooter until Champion was arrested on October 31st. Before that, Champion appeared on TV interviews saying he had “turned the tables” on Riservato, who he said had entered the home and began shooting everyone in sight. According to Ovey, Champion will receive three counts of complicity to commit murder and complicity to commit kidnapping. Apparently during the time of the murders Emily Champion was restrained by duct tape. Champion is due back in court on December tenth, he is being held in the Christian County Jail on a 5 million dollar bond.

Champion also has a close friend, Ann Plotkin, that believes he is innocent and claims, “Anybody who knows Ryan, knows he’s not capable of doing this.”

While it is still not certain who the murderer is, detectives believe all signs point to Ryan Champion who is now spending his days in the county jail until his trial is complete.

FSA Connection Questions

1. In the article, the author explains that even though the prosecutors say that they have not found a main shooter yet, police believe they have found the murderer.
2. In the article the word, restrained means what?
3. The author seems to offer what main idea?
4. Select the best two sentences from the story that support the idea of Ryan Champion being put in jail when police are not certain who the main shooter was.
5. What is the connotation of the word misfortune in the story?