UPDATE
Richt was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Jessica Griffin.
According to the Washoe County District Attorney's Office, Richt shot Griffin seven times in five seconds after following her into her home's garage after she got home from work.
Richt fled the scene and was later arrested in Las Vegas.
"The family of Jessica Griffin received justice and for that, I am thankful to the men and women of the jury in their conviction and sentencing of Jesce Richt," said Washoe County District Attorney Zach Young. "Every moment of his prison sentence is justly earned, and I can only hope it provides some sense of closure to Jessica's loved ones. Domestic violence homicides are a tragic and preventable crime that shatter families and communities. Jessica's case underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support systems, awareness, and intervention to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable."
As for the case in Henderson, court records show that the case was closed on June 4, 2025.
ORIGINAL STORY
A man accused of killing his girlfriend in Verdi last week could also face charges here in the valley.
Earlier this week, court records show that a Henderson judge signed a warrant to arrest 40-year-old Jesce Richt. Those documents show he facing two charges: domestic battery by strangulation and coercion. That's after a woman claimed he attacked her in July 2022.
Court records show Richt was originally set to be in court on May 3 for an arraignment hearing but that has been vacated due to the charges he is facing in Washoe County.
Richt is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend, Jessica Griffin, on April 18 in Verdi. The couple had been together for 20 years.
According to an arrest report, Richt was stopped on the I-15 near Primm on Monday after an officer identified the vehicle as being wanted in connection with the murder investigation.
The report states the driver was compliant and followed all of the officer's commands before being arrested and transported to the Clark County Detention Center.
According to our ABC affiliate in Reno, Griffin had taken out a series of protection orders against him that date back two decades. She filed the most recent order just weeks ago saying Richt threatened to kill her and their two children before dumping their bodies in the desert.
However, the most recent order was declined since a previous extended order was still in effect.
That order did not order him to surrender any firearms, though it’s uncertain how that or any other order would have been enforced.
"The first hurdle is getting the TPO but then the next thing is the enforcement," said Elizabeth Abdur-Raheem, the Executive Director of the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. "Enforcement is just a tricky situation because the onus is all on the victim."
Richt made his first court appearance for an extradition hearing on Thursday.
The judge said Reno authorities are coming to pick him up and take him back to Reno to face charges.
A status check is scheduled for next week.
