Caitlin Ridgeway Murders William Clifton

Caitlin Ridgeway was a seventeen year old living in Jacksonville North Carolina when she would murder William Clifton

According to court documents seventeen year old Caitlin Ridgeway was involved in a on an off again relationship with the much older and former deputy William Clifton.

Caitlin Ridgeway and William Welch would head to a park near Jacksonville North Carolina where they would meet up with William Clifton. Soon a struggle would ensue between Welch and Clifton when a gun would go off striking Clifton. William Clifton who would be shot five times would die from his injuries

Caitlin Ridgeway and William Welch would be arrested and charged with murder

William Welch would plead guilty to second degree murder and would be sentenced to 13 and 16.5 years in prison

Caitlin Ridgeway would take an Alford plea and would be sentenced to 24 and 32 years in prison

Caitlin Ridgeway Current Information

Caitlin Ridgeway Case

A 20-year-old who is accused of killing a former deputy she had been in a “dating relationship” with entered an Alford plea in court Friday.

Caitlin Ridgeway entered the plea in Onslow County Superior Court on second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon charges.

In an Alford plea, a defendant acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction but doesn’t admit guilt.

Ridgeway was sentenced to serve between 24 and 32 years in prison.

William Welch plead guilty to the same charges back in March and he is awaiting sentencing

The two are accused of fatally shooting former Onslow County deputy William Clifton, 48, of Richlands back in 2017.

Welch told detectives that he saw Clifton at Woodlands Park, hugging and kissing then 17-year-old Ridgeway. Prosecutors say there was no evidence that the relationship was not consensual, and the legal age of consent is 16.

“It’s a difficult case,” said Assistant District Attorney Bob Rupe. “Will was very liked and very respected by those of us who worked in the court system with him. It’s hard to say you ever get justice when someone is murdered because they never come back. But considering the evidence we had and the totality of the case, I think it was a reasonable outcome”

The autopsy revealed that Clifton was shot five times. Rupe says Welch was also involved in a relationship with Ridgeway at the time.

20-year-old enters Alford plea in murder of former Onslow County deputy

Caitlin Ridgeway News

A Jacksonville woman, guilty of killing a former deputy she once dated, faces 25-to-32 years in prison.

Caitlin Ridgeway, 20, took an Alford plea deal Friday morning, meaning she plead guilty to the charges but maintained her innocence. Ridgeway’s Alford plea was for second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

The case involved was the shooting death of William Joseph Clifton, 48, a former Onslow County Sheriff’s Office bailiff, which occurred July 6, 2017 at Woodlands Park in Jacksonville, near the Jacksonville Area Soccer Association soccer fields. Ridgeway, along with William Welch, Jr., were accused of killing Clifton.

Welch plead guilty earlier this year to second degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Clifton and Ridgeway had been in a romantic relationship on-and-off about two years prior to the murder, according to a no-contact order for stalking or nonconsensual sexual conduct filed in February 2016.

Bob Roupe, the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the case, read the conclusion of the investigation into Clifton’s death at the hearing, which included Welch’s account of the night.

Ridgeway asked Welch to take her to Woodlands Park on the night of the murder, Roupe said. When they arrived at the park, Ridgeway exited the vehicle, saying she would return soon and walked away down a path. Welch waited several minutes before getting out of the car and seeing Ridgeway hugging and kissing Clifton.

Welch questioned who Clifton was and attempted to attack him, according to Welch’s statement. Welch claimed he fell and when he did, he heard shots being fired. He saw Ridgeway shooting Clifton, according to Welch. When Clifton fell to the ground, the gun appeared to jam, at which point Welch took the gun, a Glock 21 .45 caliber ACP pistol belonging to his father, from Ridgeway and went to Clifton and hit him over the head several times with the gun.

An autopsy revealed Clifton had been shot four times and was fatally wounded by a gunshot that had entered the left side of his body, went through his heart and severed his aorta, according to a press release. The projectile recovered was consistent with a .45 caliber ACP round. Neither Ridgeway or Welch admitted to shooting Clifton.

“Mr. Welch said Ms. Ridgeway did, and Ms. Ridgeway never admitted any involvement in the homicide,” Roupe said. “So the only people that would know that for certain are Ms. Ridgeway and Mr. Welch.”

Lynette Bush, Clifton’s ex-wife and mother of his three children, spoke at the hearing but declined to comment afterwards. Ridgeway’s family was present at the hearing and remained in the courtroom after the hearing to embrace and support one another.

Paul Castle, Ridgeway’s defense attorney, declined to comment on the case after the plea deal hearing.

“Ultimately, there were only three people out there when this happened,” Roupe said. “That was Mr. Clifton and the two defendants, and one of those two would’ve had to explain what the other one did, and in those types of circumstances that’s always difficult.”

Ridgeway will serve a minimum 25 years and four months to a maximum of 32 years and five months. By pleading guilty, the state will dismiss any remaining charges related to the case and will not file any further charges related to the case. Castle asked the judge to consider Ridgeway’s age, willingness to cooperate, and taking the blame for her relationship with Clifton souring.

“Considering all of the facts and circumstances in this case, our office felt like it was a reasonable outcome,” Roupe said. “Every case is fact-specific and every case is different and it all comes down to evidence that we can prove in court.”

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