Fouts receives 105 years in prison

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - "I do love him," said Curtis Fouts. "He's my brother, and he will always be my brother."

I love you. That's what Curtis wrote in a letter to his brother, Richard, as he awaited his fate.

On Monday, 39-year-old Richard Fouts was sentenced to a total of 105 years in prison for the murder of his disabled grandfather, 84-year-old William Hartlep.

Yet, Curtis said what is most important was what came at the end of the letter.

"I also said at the end of the letter, that God needs to have mercy on his soul," said Curtis. "He will die in prison, and he chose that himself."

It all started in Lafayette back in October 2011. Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said Richard went to his grandfather's house to rob him.

When he realized his grandfather had no money, Harrington said Richard strangled him and slit his throat. Harrington calls this particular murder a tragedy.

"He not only killed and basically executed an elderly gentleman who was well-known to his neighbors and loved, but he was disabled and he was his own grandfather," said Harrington.

On Monday, Richard took the stand for the final time, and said he knew he had done wrong. He even called himself "a worthless piece of garbage."

Richard begged the court to think of his 4-year-old daughter, whom he said he may never see again, and asked the court to consider less than the maximum sentence.

He was given just 15 years less.

"Given the defendant's current age, even with credit time for serving, the likelihood of him ever walking free is minimal," said Harrington.

That's something many members of Fouts family said they can live with.

Two years later, many of them are still trying to understand how their own flesh and blood could murder someone they all loved so dearly.

For many like Curtis, there is one thing they know for sure.
    
"I never want to talk to him again," said Curtis.

Fouts' 105 year sentence breaks down like this: 65 years for murder, 20 years for attempted burglary and 20 years for being a habitual offender.