Missouri Supreme Court issues mandate affirming murder convictions of Ricky Harding

Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger announced on Friday that the Missouri Supreme Court issued a mandate affirming the conviction of Ricky Harding for the 2014 killing of Summer Harding.

Harding was convicted of murder, domestic assault, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and endangering the welfare of a child.

Harding was previously convicted in December of 2015 after a week-long trial. Shellabarger said the incident happened when a stolen gun, combined with domestic violence, led to an argument and a struggle over the gun that led to the fatal shot.

Ricky allegedly ran away while his children watched their mother bleed to death, Shellabarger said.

“The appellate court’s decision means criminal decisions have consequences,” Shellabarger said.

“All of this was preventable,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ashley Turner said. “Domestic violence is a cycle that feeds on silence and fear.”

The court ordered a technical correction to the endangering the welfare of a child sentencing documents so they matched the jury’s verdict, but affirmed Harding’s conviction for the murder of his wife.

For more on Harding, click here.