Miles City, MT: Estranged husband killed Miles City wife after she refused post-game meal

By DIANE COCHRAN Of The Gazette Staff | Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010 1:35 pm

A Miles City man shot and killed his estranged wife because she declined his invitation to a meal after their daughter's basketball game, court records say.

Richard Patrick "Pat" Rickett is accused of shooting 47-year-old Hazel Rickett to death outside her apartment on Palmer Street in Miles City Friday night.

Rickett, 58, was arrested about 25 minutes after the shooting after a brief standoff with police, according to court documents. He remains in jail with no bond.

Rickett told investigators that he and his wife had been separated for six months. They both attended their daughter's high school basketball game on Friday, and after the game, he asked if she and the kids wanted to get something to eat, records say.

Hazel Rickett apparently declined the invitation, and that made Rickett mad. He told police he went to her apartment with two handguns and waited for her by the door of the building.

When she arrived, they argued and then he shot her, court records say. A neighbor told police that she heard three gunshots.

An officer found Rickett driving around about 25 minutes later. When he pulled over, Rickett was armed and threatened to kill himself, records say.

The officer persuaded Rickett to surrender.

Contact Diane Cochran at dcochran@billingsgazette.com or 657-1287.