Josephine “Josie” Ann Powers, a 25-year-old woman from Burnsville, Minnesota, has been charged with second-degree murder. She is accused of shooting 70-year-old Michael Riccio in the head. The incident allegedly took place in her father’s home. After the murder, it is alleged that she had an accomplice hide the body in Minneapolis. The murder charge was filed by Dakota County prosecutors. Powers is currently being held in jail on a $1 million bond.
Josephine Powers. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Saint Paul, MN. August 21, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.
Josephine Powers Case Report
Background: Josephine “Josie” Ann Powers, a 25-year-old resident of Burnsville, Minnesota, has been charged with second-degree intentional murder. The charge stems from the death of Michael Robert Riccio, a 70-year-old man from Minneapolis.
Incident Details: On July 9, 2024, Michael Riccio was fatally shot in the home of Josephine Powers’ father. Powers reported the incident to the authorities on July 18, claiming that Riccio was killed by an unidentified man in her home.
Investigation
and Charges: The Dakota County prosecutors allege that
Powers shot and killed Riccio and subsequently enlisted an accomplice
to conceal the body in Minneapolis. She faces one count of
second-degree murder. Her bail was set at $1 million, and her court
appearance was scheduled for August 1, 2024.
The motive behind the murder in the Josephine Powers case appears to be related to a personal conflict. According to witness testimony, Powers and the victim, Michael Riccio, had an argument that escalated, leading Powers to grab a gun and shoot him. Powers reportedly told another defendant that Riccio “was fucking with her and she could not take it anymore”. Additionally, there are indications that Powers has a history of drug abuse and had suffered sexual abuse as a child, which may have contributed to her actions.
Additional
Information: Josephine Powers and Michael Riccio met
because they both enjoyed fixing cars. According to Powers’ father,
they used to work on vehicles together. This shared activity
indicates that their connection was at least partially founded on a
shared hobby or interest. However, the available evidence does not
reveal the full depth of their relationship, including whether it
extended beyond their shared interest in car repair.
According
to court filings, Powers resided with a family member who was on
vacation at the time of the alleged murder. There are signs that
Powers has a history of drug misuse, and her parents have stated that
they previously urged the victim, Michael Riccio, to avoid their
daughter due to drug worries.
Josephine Powers has a long
history of drug usage, which her parents attribute to terrible
occurrences in her childhood. Her mother, Patti Jensen, claims that
Josephine's drug problems started when she was a young child and
subjected to sexual abuse by a family friend. This background of
substance misuse appears to have had an impact on her behavior and
may have contributed to the events that led up to the murder charge
she is currently facing.
Her parents have expressed dismay
in her prolonged drug usage and stated that they did not believe she
possessed the necessary competence to shoot a gun, implying that her
actions on the day of the incident were out of character for her due
to their assessment of her lack of knowledge with firearms. It is
apparent that Josephine Powers' drug abuse is a complex issue that is
inextricably linked to her personal background and has influenced the
unfortunate events that occurred.
Current Status: As of the latest updates, Josephine Powers remains in custody with the bond set at the amount. The case is ongoing, and further details may emerge as the legal process continues.
VIDEO: Parents: Burnsville murder suspect had history of drug abuse; father had told victim to stay away | https://youtu.be/Myv4lyqyuHQ
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