Richland County man receives life sentence for double murder
September 12, 2025
A Richland County jury convicted Dontrell Rufus of two counts of murder and burglary in the first degree on Sept. 11. The Honorable Christopher D. Taylor sentenced Rufus to three life sentences in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
On April 20, 2020, Rufus arrived uninvited at Kiara Richbow’s home. Inside were their two daughters and Kiara’s grandmother, Sarah Richbow, and niece.
The defendant’s cousin attempted several times to defuse the conflict before Rufus forcefully entered the home.
He shot Kiara twice and Sarah once. Both later died from their injuries.
Afterward, the defendant fled the scene. He abandoned his truck and attempted to dispose of evidence linking him to the crime.
Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) deputies arrested Rufus the next morning on Broad River Road.
The Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecuted the case. Circuit Deputy Solicitor Dan Goldberg and Assistant Solicitors Gabbie Sharp and Nick Fowler led the prosecution.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated.