The Wyandotte County courthouse will see Richard Fatherley on Nov. 18, facing charges that could send him to prison for decades. District Attorney Mark Dupree announced Thursday that the 32-year-old detention center employee has been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Charles Adair, a 50-year-old Kansas City man who died in custody this past July.
Fatherley, who worked at the detention center for just over a year, received a criminal summons rather than being arrested — a decision Dupree called standard practice for law enforcement personnel in the county.
The incident that led to the charges unfolded quickly on the evening of July 5. Adair had been brought to the detention center the previous day for failing to appear in court on misdemeanor traffic warrants. Around 8:30 p.m., he received medical treatment at the jail infirmary for a pre-existing leg wound.
According to Kansas Bureau of Investigation reports, trouble began when deputies attempted to return Adair to his cell. He resisted, yelling and physically fighting the staff members. The coroner’s autopsy later revealed that an officer knelt on Adair’s back during the struggle, causing multiple rib fractures, a sternal fracture, and ultimately mechanical asphyxia. By 8:37 p.m., just seven minutes after the medical visit, Adair was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.
The case now moves through a justice system where conflicts of interest loom large. Dupree indicated his office will likely request an out-of-county judge to oversee proceedings, acknowledging the inherent challenges when a sheriff’s deputy faces charges in the same courthouse where he once worked.
Fatherley’s attorney, James Spies, maintains his client’s innocence, calling Adair’s death “a tragic accident” and insisting his client “did nothing wrong.” Meanwhile, Adair’s family continues to grieve the loss of a devoted father of three who loved the Royals and Chiefs.
If convicted on the murder charge, Fatherley faces up to 40 years in prison. The alternative manslaughter conviction could bring nearly 12 years. For now, he remains on unpaid administrative leave, waiting for his day in court.