CORDES LAKES – A Cordes Lakes father, 51-year-old Richard Ellsworth, was arrested for nearly beating his wife beyond recognition as his special needs son begged for him to stop.
Ellsworth is facing attempted murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges.
Ellsworth was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Threatening per Domestic Violence against his special needs 18-year-old son.
According to Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, on October 5, 2020, around 3:15 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a report of a badly beaten woman at the Cordes Lakes property.
A witness told officers that Ellsworth beat his wife “so bad her face is disfigured and doesn’t look human.”
Ellsworth’s wife was discovered in this condition by the landlady and her son-in-law. They had come up from Phoenix to collect late rent. They told Ellsworth that his wife needed medical help and he told them she did not, and this was none of their business. They left and called 911.
When deputies arrived, Ellsworth’s special needs son was loading a car with items and indicated he was going on a trip with his dad.
It appeared Ellsworth was preparing to leave with his son and desert his wife who lay severely injured inside the home. She was found inside the home with serious injuries to her arms and face with her stockings pulled down to her knees. At the time, Ellswort claimed his wife had returned home in that condition and suggested the injuries were caused by her ‘boyfriend’ with whom he claimed she was having an affair.
Ellsworth’s wife was evaluated by medical personnel and transported to a Phoenix area hospital. Deputies made sure the couple’s son was being properly cared for before leaving.
After Ellsworth was arrested on domestic violence charges a YCSO detective obtained a search warrant so evidence from the scene could be gathered. Detectives found blood in the kitchen, laundry area and bathroom of the home.
On October 6, 2020, detectives went to the hospital and met with Ellsworth’s wife. She was in obvious pain with both eyes swollen shut and her arms were extremely swollen and discolored. Medical records were obtained which show the victim sustained multiple orbital bone facial fractures including orbital blowout fractures to both eyes, extensive facial trauma, a broken nose, traumatic brain injury, and multiple rib fractures.
The case detective learned Ellsworth was trying to post a $25,000 bond and interceded to request a bond increase as it was likely Richard would flee. The bond was raised to $50,000.
Detectives received information that the special needs son may have recorded portions of the assault on his cell phone. Detectives recovered the son’s cell phone and located videos depicting horrific attacks on the victim including an ongoing series of punches and kicks to her face and body with steel toed construction boots as she and the son pleaded for him to stop. Ellsworth is heard threatening to kill his special needs son and his wife several times.
The case detective then discovered other videos from a cell phone associated with Ellsworth. These videos were taken by Ellsworth himself. The videos depict Ellsworth continually beating, berating, and screaming at his wife. Based on the time stamps on the videos these beatings took place for several hours. These videos also depict Richard threatening to kill his wife and his son. The special needs son witnessed many of these acts and can be heard telling his dad to stop.
There is a history of domestic violence in the marriage and in keeping with the previous acts of domestic violence the victim gave various stories as to how she sustained her injuries and has been reluctant to assist with prosecution. Neighbors told detectives of ongoing fights initiated by Ellsworth in which he yells, cusses and in some cases, physically assaults his wife.
Ellsworth’s current charges include Attempted First-Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Aggravated Assault. Richard is also charged with sexual assault against both his wife and the special needs son.