Coast Guard Mother Acquitted is Now Recharged

Kate and Scarlett. Photo courtesy of Kate Richards.

American citizens have our military to thank for the many freedoms we enjoy. When Kathleen (Katie) Richard joined the Coast Guard after high school graduation, she never dreamed the military would endanger her freedom during the most tragic and vulnerable period of her life.

Katie and her husband were stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. Scarlett, their 5-month-old daughter, was thriving. Scarlett loved story time with her mom, running in place while her dad cheered her on, and cozying up with the family dog, Kona. Scarlett was at that age where she was often babbling and cooing.

On the afternoon of April 18, 2020, Katie put Scarlett down for a nap, then returned to the living room where she folded laundry and visited with a friend. They spoke softly so as not to disturb Scarlett. When they heard Scarlett’s adorable baby chatter through the thin walls, they smiled at each other.

Katie’s husband came home and urged Katie and her friend to go to a coffee shop and take a break. He would watch Scarlett. When they left, he Facetimed a family member and did some tequila shots. The family member asked to see Scarlett, but he refused, saying he didn’t want to interrupt her nap.

When Katie returned about a half hour later, she immediately checked on Scarlett. To her horror, Scarlett lay lifeless in her crib. Katie and her husband raced to the hospital. Katie’s husband performed CPR on the way. When they ran inside the hospital, Katie wasn’t wearing shoes. Her purse was left in the car. None of that mattered — nothing mattered except Scarlett. The young parents were devastated when the doctors were unable to save their precious child.

The doctor’s report said, “She likely succumbed with SIDS,” and “I have no suspicion of abuse.”

Soon after, the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) in Kodiak, Alaska began looking into the case. They separated Katie from her husband and admitted her into an in-house medical treatment center where she was put on suicide watch. She wasn’t able to speak to her husband. Katie assumed the Coast Guard was trying to help her figure out what happened to Scarlett, but instead they were building a case against her.

In 2022, Katie was charged with first-degree murder and acquitted, but she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison. Billy Little, Jr., a nationally recognized investigative attorney, put together an expert defense team and in March 2024 an appellate court exonerated Katie. Although she was cleared of all charges, the Coast Guard waited another 45 days to release her from the brig.

“They released me on Scarlett’s death anniversary. It threw me into a whirlwind of disaster,” Katie told me in a recent interview. “I didn’t have any money, and they didn’t start my pay for like another week and a half. I still have not received a cent from the 2 ½ years I was wrongfully confined. I’m still waiting on it and am very much entitled to it.”

Katie is currently stationed in Virginia. Recently, Katie learned CGIS is recharging her with involuntary manslaughter. “I’ve been acquitted of this. I am being charged with the same exact charge I was acquitted of. This is destroying my life,” Katie said.

Last night, Billy Little, Jr. was on the Interview Room, a podcast hosted by Chris McDonough, a retired homicide detective and member of Little’s elite team of experts, to discuss Katie’s case. Little pointed out CGIS is very good at cases involving typical military matters, but they have little homicide investigation experience and zero experience investigating SIDS.

Little was incredulous that CGIS did not preserve key evidence. Scarlett’s clothing, crib, and bedding were destroyed. “That’s an absolute no-no when doing a homicide investigation,” Little said. “That’s critical information.”

Little and McDonough agreed that CGIS recharging Katie again is considered double jeopardy. “You can’t just keep trying people over and over and over again until you bankrupt them, until you cause them to have a nervous breakdown and destroy their lives like they’ve done to Katie. You can’t do that. Our constitution says you can’t do that. Once a jury has acquitted somebody of something, that’s it. You don’t get 50 bites at the apple," Little said.

“They have spent millions of dollars on this case,” Little said. He cited the thousands of hours CGIS spent working on the case, the thousands of pages of police reports, the 10–15 investigators, and the four lawyers they had during the trial. “That’s how big the case was to them, and they still lost. Because they didn’t have the truth on their side. But now they’re coming back after her again. They won’t even let her out of the Coast Guard. They’re keeping her, basically imprisoning her, in the Coast Guard until they can get their egos fixed.”

After reviewing the facts of the case and describing CGIS’s continuing abuse toward Katie, Little shook his head and said, “How is this possible in this country? I don’t get it.”

It should be noted, Little proudly served 24 years in the military. He served on active duty as a military officer in the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Air Force Reserves. He retired as a Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves. He received numerous awards and commendation medals.

Katie is deeply touched by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers she has been getting from people across the country as word of her story spreads. Please share this article on all your social media accounts so Americans can stand behind Katie through this David-and-Goliath-like battle. If you would like up-to-date information on Katie Richard’s case and learn how you can help, join the Justice for Katie and Scarlett Facebook page.