Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RICHFIELD -- Many people in Richfield are mourning because of a tragic crime that left four children without parents. Police say the parents both died of gunshot wounds Friday morning.
Scott G. Rickenbach, 45, and Lori Rickenbach, 41, seemed like the perfect couple to outsiders. They had been married for nearly 20 years, had beautiful smiles, beautiful children and a beautiful home.
"They're the ones that always [had] a smile on their face. I've never seen them upset, angry, especially not at each other," said neighbor Kylie Winn.
Friday, something went horribly wrong.
Richfield police responded to a medical emergency at the Rickenbach home near 700 North and 400 East around 11:30 a.m. Officers found both Lori and Scott shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide.
"This is big for Richfield. It's a shock to the community. We usually don't see stuff like this, so it is a shock to the community," said Richfield police officer Jarred LeFevre.
Soon the neighborhood was crowded with detectives, as the oldest son was left to cope.
"I seen Saxxon out crying, and then all of a sudden all the cops started showing up," neighbor Kristina Torgerson said. "I just had a bad feeling, and I wanted to be there for Saxxon, but it was a hard time."
Lori was a supervisor at the local Department of Motor Vehicles office, and Scott was a farmer.
They were the parents of four children -- three boys and a girl, ages 10, 14, 15 and 17. They are great kids, according to many people in town, and certainly not deserving of this fate.
"I think they're just still in shock. I don't think it's hit them yet," Winn said.
"They're acting way too strong for what just happened," Torgerson said.
"I'm sure the community will all pull together and help in whatever way they can, and I know that people have already offered to help with the kids. I understand they already have that taken care of," said Richfield resident Keri Walker.
Four children have been left without parents, but they have a whole community behind them.
Richfield police have already sent the bodies to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Salt Lake. They say they're still investigating the crime.
Detectives wouldn't give us any details on a possible motive.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
---
