UPDATED: Burnsville Woman Charged with Second-Degree Intentional Murder in Death of Michael Robert Riccio
Updated August 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM.
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA – In a shocking development, a Burnsville woman, Josephine Ann Powers, 25, was charged today with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of 70-year-old Michael Robert Riccio, as announced by Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena.
According to court documents, on July 18, Powers contacted the Burnsville Police Department to report a shooting that had occurred at her home on Keating Court earlier in the month. At the time of the incident, Powers lived alone as her family member was on a two-week vacation. Witnesses reported that Riccio was allegedly shot on approximately July 9 following an argument with Powers. The shooter was reportedly a man who the criminal complaint states was identified as Witness 4. According to the press release, Riccio was shot in the head, and his body was then wrapped in tarps and carpet. Days later, Powers enlisted the help of Christopher Michael Hawkins, promising him a pickup truck in exchange for moving a package from her home. When Hawkins arrived, he found blood throughout the downstairs area and what he believed to be a body wrapped in garbage bags and rugs. He then transported the object to a shed in Minneapolis, where he kept his belongings.
Investigation and Arrests
Upon obtaining a search warrant for the Minneapolis address, officers discovered remains in a grey container in the backyard. An autopsy confirmed the remains were those of Riccio, who had died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Hawkins, currently held in the Hennepin County Jail on a separate matter, will be transferred to the Dakota County Jail upon his release.
Court Proceedings and Charges
Judge Timothy McManus set Powers' bail at $1 million without conditions ($750,000 with conditions). Powers' next court appearance is scheduled for August 1 at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings. Powers faces a charge of second-degree murder (with intent but not premeditated), which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.
Detailed Investigation Findings
According to the complaint, Powers' father, who owns the Burnsville residence, returned from vacation to find what he initially believed to be brown paint splatters throughout the house. On July 16, he witnessed a man in a hazmat suit cleaning the house and removing portions of carpet. Powers later confessed to a friend, Witness 2, that Riccio had been shot and killed in the house. Witness 2 then informed Mr. Powers of the events that occurred while he was away on vacation. Officers found evidence of bleach and recently patched bullet holes during their investigation.
Powers identified "Chris," later revealed to be Hawkins, as the person who helped move the body. Hawkins confirmed that he was asked by Powers and another individual to move the body from the Burnsville address. Hawkins detailed seeing blood throughout the house and a body wrapped in garbage bags and rugs. Another witness, referred to as Witness 4, corroborated parts of the story, stating that he was present at the house when the shooting occurred. According to the criminal complaint, Witness 4 described an argument between Powers and Riccio, during which Powers grabbed a handgun and shot Riccio. The criminal complaint states that Powers then attempted to clean up the scene and later showed Hawkins the body and bullet holes. According to the complaint, Witness 4 reportedly did not help Powers clean or move the body.
According to Patricia Jensen, Powers’ Mother, who spoke with Limitless Media through email, she reports that Witness 4 was the individual who brought the gun to the residence and shot Riccio following the argument and that Witness 4 was there with his girlfriend at the time of the incident. Jensen also reports that Mr. Powers told Riccio to stay away from his house. According to a statement that Mr. Powers gave KSTP, Powers knows his daughter because they used to fix up cars together. He told Riccio to stay away from his home since he was “always yelling at Josie.”
Jensen also told us that Riccio was a convicted pedophile, with court documents from Anoka County showing Riccio was charged with two counts of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct back in December of 1990.
In the press release, County Attorney Keena expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the Burnsville Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Dakota County Drug Task Force, Dakota County Electronic Crimes Unit, and other responding agencies for their thorough investigation and partnership in bringing the case forward.
JiWayne Chatman - Updated August 2, 2024.
Jiwayne Lavelle Chatman, 38, of Minneapolis, MN, is facing charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and a firearm due to a previous felony conviction. The arrest came in the wake of the ongoing homicide investigation in Burnsville, Minnesota, though Chatman has not been directly charged in relation to the homicide.
Law enforcement officers from the Minneapolis Police Department and the Violent Offender Task Force apprehended Chatman on Fremont Avenue in Minneapolis after a KOPS alert was issued. During his arrest, officers discovered four .380 caliber bullets on Chatman’s person and suspected cocaine in his sock. Further investigation led to a search warrant for the vehicle Chatman was in, which revealed a Ruger handgun with an obliterated serial number, also loaded with .380 ammunition. Chatman, who has a prior conviction for Aggravated Robbery, admitted in a Mirandized statement that the gun belonged to him and that he carried it for protection.
The state requested a warrant for Chatman’s detention due to the serious nature of the charges and his connection to the homicide investigation. While Powers has been charged in connection with the homicide, authorities continue to investigate the case. Chatman remains in custody in Dakota County as the investigation progresses.
Christopher Michael Hawkins - Updated August 23, 2024.
The homicide investigation led to charges against 48-year-old Christopher Michael Hawkins. Hawkins is accused of aiding an offender after the fact and interfering with a dead body in connection to the above-mentioned incident that occurred between July 9 and July 18, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint for Hawkins charges, Powers told investigators that the victim was shot and killed by a male identified as "Witness 4" in a Burnsville residence on or about July 9, 2024. Powers also told investigators that Hawkins helped move the victim's body from the residence to a shed at a residence in Minneapolis. Powers gave investigators an address of where the body could be found. Officers obtained a search warrant for that residence in Minneapolis, where they located Hawkins, and discovered the victim's remains in a large gray container at his property.
In a Mirandized statement, Hawkins admitted that he was asked by Powers and a man named "Mike" to move a package, which he later realized was the victim's body. He also helped clean up blood at the crime scene. According to the criminal complaint, Hawkins states that Powers confessed to him that she shot the victim after being harassed and showed him the patched bullet holes and the body wrapped in tarps and carpet, which conflicts with Power’s reports of the incident.
Hawkins faces two felony charges: aiding in the concealment of the crime and interfering with the investigation by helping to move and conceal the body.
Bail for Hawkins has been set at $500,000 without conditions or $250,000 with conditions. Hawkins's criminal history includes pending charges for third-degree burglary in 2023, drug offenses in 2021 and 2019, and a 2003 conviction for threats of violence.
Court records show that Hawkins's bail has not been posted yet, and he remains in Dakota County Jail. His next court appearance is set for September 19, 2024 at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota.
JiWayne Chatman is Pictured Left, and Josephine Powers is Pictured right.
Images provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Dakota County Jail.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Josephine Ann Powers and JiWayne Chatman, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
