1981 mid-Missouri murder cold case is solved; suspect is serving a life sentence for unrelated killing

An inmate who’s already serving a life prison sentence for murder has pleaded guilty to killing a Callaway County man more than 42 years ago.

Our news partner KMIZ reports 70-year-old Conrad Schmitt III, who’s serving a life prison sentence without parole for an unrelated murder in St. Charles County, has pleaded guilty to felony manslaughter for the 1981 shooting death of Ricky Ridings. Callaway County prosecutor Benjamin Miller tells ABC-17 that the original capital murder charge was amended to manslaughter in exchange for Schmitt’s agreement to answer questions from Ridings’ family. The prosecutor says the family members wanted closure and thanked Schmitt for providing details that only he could answer.

Schmitt will serve ten additional years in prison, on top of the life sentence.  Schmitt is currently incarcerated at the maximum-security Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point.