By Kim McDarison

The Whitewater Police Department, within a criminal complaint submitted to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office earlier this month and filed with the court on Friday, noted that a male caller, whom law enforcement agents later identified as Chad Richards, stated that “a female was dying.”

Police were dispatched to a W. Whitewater Street address just before midnight on Aug. 30, in response to the call.

According to the complaint, “Officer Bradley” of the Whitewater Police Department entered the home with several other officers.

Inside the home, Bradley reported that he observed the defendant, Chad Richards, on his phone, “crying hysterically in the hallway of the building.”

Also within the complaint, “Officer H. Martin,” of the Whitewater Police Department, noted that he entered the building and escorted the defendant out of the building.

Inside an apartment within the building, according to the complaint, Bradley and other officers observed the body of a female, who was later identified as “Victim 1,” “lying on the floor in a pool of blood.”

The officer reported that the female did not have a pulse and was not breathing.

Bradley additionally reported that the female’s “arms were folded underneath her chest as if she was holding her stomach.”

The officer, within the complaint, noted that he observed several gunshot wounds on the victim’s neck, shoulder, wrist and leg.

City of Whitewater Police Department “Officer Dorman” also entered the residence and reported that he found no other person in the residence other than the victim.

He additionally observed that the door to a bedroom “had multiple holes in it consistent with a person striking the door multiple times with a hand or foot.”

He also observed a black handgun on the floor of the living room, near the bedroom door, along with several spent shell casings throughout the residence, the complaint noted.

Whitewater Police “Detective Heilberger,” spoke with the defendant who agreed to answer questions after being Mirandized, according to the complaint.

The defendant told the detective that the victim was his girlfriend, and the incident occurred in the defendant’s apartment. The defendant said that he and the victim “had gotten into an argument, but the defendant did not remember what the argument was about.”

The defendant stated, according to the complaint, that “he had gotten so mad that he punched the door.”

Heilberger noted cuts and missing skin on the knuckles of the defendant’s right hand, the complaint reported.

The defendant told the detective that while he and the victim were fighting, the victim “grabbed the defendant’s handgun from the defendant’s nightstand.”

They wrestled for the gun, according to the defendant, as described within the complaint.

“The defendant stated that he shot Victim 1 with the handgun because he feared for his life. The defendant stated that after he shot Victim 1, he called his father and then 911,” the complaint read.

According to the complaint, Dr. Brian Peterson of the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Victim 1.

The records show that Victim 1 suffered eight gunshot wounds, located in her neck, wrist, abdomen, thighs and lower back.

The examiner concluded that the victim died of gunshot wounds to her neck, torso and extremities.

After search warrants were obtained, the complaint stated, Whitewater Police Lt. “Hintz” while assisting with the investigation, recovered 11 spent shell casings from the apartment floor.

Additionally Hintz observed the victim’s body, and collected evidence from the apartment. He concluded, the complaint notes, that the victim’s injuries and the evidence at the scene “were consistent with some of the shots occurring while the shooter was standing over Victim 1, with Victim 1 in the fetal position on the floor.”

As earlier reported, Richards was in court for an initial appearance Friday before Walworth County Circuit Judge Estee Scholtz.

The defendant has remained in custody since Saturday and appeared in court via video conference.

Bail has been set at $1 million.

The defendant was represented Friday by attorney Gibson Hatch.

Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld appeared in court representing the state.

Members of the victim’s family were present in the courtroom.

The defendant will next appear in court before Judge David Reddy on Oct. 28, at 2 p.m.

Would the defendant be found guilty of the charges against him, he would face life in prison, according to the criminal complaint.

Charges include a Felony A count of 1st degree intentional homicide, with a modifier of use of a dangerous weapon.