Louisville police report fifth arrest in Milton Ritchie homicide as investigation expands beyond initial suspects

Case timeline and what is publicly known

Louisville Metro Police have reported a fifth arrest tied to the December 2025 homicide of 20-year-old Milton Ritchie, a case that investigators have described in court records as involving an alleged robbery and a planned ambush. The additional arrest signals an expanding inquiry that has, to date, involved both adult and juvenile defendants.

Ritchie was killed on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, after officers were dispatched at about 4:14 p.m. to the 3000 block of Fordhaven Road in southwest Louisville, near Pleasure Ridge Park. First responders found a vehicle in a ditch and Ritchie lying nearby with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier arrests outlined alleged lure-and-robbery scenario

In the days following the shooting, police announced the first arrest: a 15-year-old girl charged with complicity to murder and complicity to robbery. In January 2026, police announced a second arrest, charging Daontez Hodges Jr. with murder and additional offenses that included robbery-related and firearm-related counts.

A third arrest was announced on Feb. 6, 2026, when a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody and charged with murder, robbery and tampering with physical evidence. Police did not release the names of juvenile suspects because of their ages.

Arrest documents cited in earlier case reporting described an alleged setup in which Ritchie was invited to meet the 15-year-old, then confronted by others upon arrival. The documents also described the incident as part of a “revenge plan” and indicated that taking Ritchie’s vehicle was part of the alleged motive.

Fifth arrest: what it means, and what remains unclear

Police have now said a fifth arrest has been made in the homicide investigation. Public reporting available as of Feb. 11, 2026, has not consistently identified the additional two suspects beyond those already announced in December, January and early February, and the department has not released a complete public roster of all defendants, their ages, or their precise charges.

In Louisville homicide investigations, multiple arrests can reflect several realities: additional alleged participants, alleged accessories after the fact, or suspects tied to evidence collection and witness development. Without charging documents and court filings for each defendant, the public record does not yet provide a full accounting of roles attributed to each arrested person.

Key confirmed facts

• The homicide occurred Dec. 20, 2025, on Fordhaven Road in southwest Louisville.
• The victim was identified as 20-year-old Milton Ritchie.
• Police have publicly announced arrests including a 15-year-old girl, Daontez Hodges Jr., and a 17-year-old boy; juveniles’ names have not been released.
• Investigators have described the case in arrest-related reporting as involving an alleged lure-and-robbery scenario.

The case remains active, and the scope of responsibility attributed to each defendant will be tested through court proceedings and evidentiary review.

Anyone with information about the case has been urged by police in earlier public appeals to contact Louisville Metro Police through its tip resources.