Champion's trial to start in August
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
September 26, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/champion-s-trial-to-start-in-august/article_f88947cc-5aee-11e7-86d8-10604b9f0f42.html
Trial dates have been set for an Oak Grove man who is accused of murder and complicity to murder in the deaths of his sister, parents and another man, and the Hopkinsville woman who police believe had prior knowledge of the killings.
Ryan Champion, 36, is charged with murder, three counts of complicity to murder and one count of kidnapping in the Oct. 26 deaths of his father Lindsey Champion, 62; his mother Joy Champion, 60; his sister Emily Champion, 31; and his alleged accomplice Vito Riservato, 22, of Hopkinsville.
Ann Plotkin, 41, who police believe had prior knowledge of the killings, faces three counts of complicity to murder and one count of resisting arrest.
In Trigg Circuit Court Friday, the judge gave Champion's defense a little less than a year to prepare their case, setting the trial for Aug. 15, 2016, and marking out a month for its completion.
Plotkin's attorney anticipated her trial would take two weeks to complete. The judge scheduled that trial to start on Feb. 20, 2017.
Champion was at first believed to be the sole survivor of the Oct. 26 massacre that claimed his family members, as he was tied up in his family's Old Dover Road home when police found him.
Before he was arrested, Champion had stated that Riservato had tied him up and held him and Emily Champion at gunpoint before their parents returned home during the attack. Champion also claimed in an interview with a TV news station he had "turned the tables" on Riservato and wrestled the gun away from him before killing him.
Police, however, were unconvinced and arrested Champion on Oct. 31, believing that Champion had worked with Riservato to have his family killed in a murder-for-hire scheme.
Police believe Riservato killed Lindsey, Joy and Emily Champion and that Ryan Champion then fatally shot Riservato.
Champion is also facing a kidnapping charge, which stems from his sister's wrists and arms being bound with duct tape, according to the court records.
Several months later, Plotkin was arrested on Feb. 11 at her Pennyroyal Homes apartment in Hopkinsville. She was indicted by a special grand jury in Trigg County the same day.
Police identified Plotkin as Champion's girlfriend at the time of the slayings and claimed she had prior knowledge of the murders and helped Champion and Riservato with the planning.
Following his arrest, Plotkin made several posts on Facebook supporting Champion, stating she knew he was innocent and that she loved and missed him.
Both remain jailed in Hopkinsville. Champion's bond is set at $5 million; Plotkin's bond is $3 million.
Also in court Friday, Champion's attorneys Julia Mudd and Joanne Lynch filed a motion to dismiss the death penalty, saying it was unconstitutional.
Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins argued that Kentucky law is clear and the death penalty is applicable given the charges Champion is facing. Circuit Judge C.A. "Woody" Woodall agreed, denying the defense's motion.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Ryan Champion, 36, is charged with murder, three counts of complicity to murder and one count of kidnapping in the Oct. 26 deaths of his father Lindsey Champion, 62; his mother Joy Champion, 60; his sister Emily Champion, 31; and his alleged accomplice Vito Riservato, 22, of Hopkinsville.
Ann Plotkin, 41, who police believe had prior knowledge of the killings, faces three counts of complicity to murder and one count of resisting arrest.
In Trigg Circuit Court Friday, the judge gave Champion's defense a little less than a year to prepare their case, setting the trial for Aug. 15, 2016, and marking out a month for its completion.
Plotkin's attorney anticipated her trial would take two weeks to complete. The judge scheduled that trial to start on Feb. 20, 2017.
Champion was at first believed to be the sole survivor of the Oct. 26 massacre that claimed his family members, as he was tied up in his family's Old Dover Road home when police found him.
Before he was arrested, Champion had stated that Riservato had tied him up and held him and Emily Champion at gunpoint before their parents returned home during the attack. Champion also claimed in an interview with a TV news station he had "turned the tables" on Riservato and wrestled the gun away from him before killing him.
Police, however, were unconvinced and arrested Champion on Oct. 31, believing that Champion had worked with Riservato to have his family killed in a murder-for-hire scheme.
Police believe Riservato killed Lindsey, Joy and Emily Champion and that Ryan Champion then fatally shot Riservato.
Champion is also facing a kidnapping charge, which stems from his sister's wrists and arms being bound with duct tape, according to the court records.
Several months later, Plotkin was arrested on Feb. 11 at her Pennyroyal Homes apartment in Hopkinsville. She was indicted by a special grand jury in Trigg County the same day.
Police identified Plotkin as Champion's girlfriend at the time of the slayings and claimed she had prior knowledge of the murders and helped Champion and Riservato with the planning.
Following his arrest, Plotkin made several posts on Facebook supporting Champion, stating she knew he was innocent and that she loved and missed him.
Both remain jailed in Hopkinsville. Champion's bond is set at $5 million; Plotkin's bond is $3 million.
Also in court Friday, Champion's attorneys Julia Mudd and Joanne Lynch filed a motion to dismiss the death penalty, saying it was unconstitutional.
Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins argued that Kentucky law is clear and the death penalty is applicable given the charges Champion is facing. Circuit Judge C.A. "Woody" Woodall agreed, denying the defense's motion.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
