Louisiana murder suspect arrested in Cape taken back to home state

A Louisiana murder suspect arrested after a high-speed chase across two Southeast Missouri counties waived extradition Thursday and was taken back home.

Charles Richardson, 50, of Violet, La., was apprehended Tuesday evening at Center Junction by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Cape Girardeau police. Louisiana authorities had identified him as the suspect in the slaying of an 18-year-old woman and the shooting of her adoptive mother, Richardson's wife.

Thursday morning, Richardson appeared in court in Cape Girardeau County and waived his right to a hearing on whether he should be returned to Louisiana, Sheriff John Jordan said. He was handed over to two deputies from St. Bernard Parish, where the shootings took place Tuesday.

Richardson was identified by his wife, Elizabeth Richardson, as the shooter in the incident. Elizabeth Richardson was shot in the neck, while her adopted daughter, India Mahoney, was shot in the head and chest and died, according to reports in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Charles Richardson is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

He was apprehended about 12 hours after the shootings took place. He was chased by highway patrol troopers from Benton, Mo., to Center Junction, where his truck was brought to a halt by stop sticks on the highway.