Richard Ford, ex-husband of Texas murder victim charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault after ‘he was seen dragging his estranged wife into a rented SUV’ before she was found dead in a field 24 hours later
Melissa Banda, 37, was reportedly kidnapped Thursday by Richard Ford, 40, in McAllen, Thursday afternoon
Her lifeless body was found Friday evening in a rural stretch of Hidalgo County
Ford was arrested late Thursday shortly after witnesses dialed 911 at 3:49pm to report they had observed Banda’s ex-husband forcing her into an SUV T
Banda had a protective order against Ford. She accused him of violating that order on June 30 when he allegedly called her
Ford who has a history of violence, was charged with aggravated kidnapping by McAllen police and his bond was set at $2.5 million ahead of a slated court arraignment
Banda leaves behind three children aged 10, 8 and 6 – The couple got married in July 2008 but were now divorced
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating Banda’s death
Richard Ford [photo] of McAllen, Texas is facing possible murder charges after the ex-wife he abducted on Thursday afternoon was found dead 24 hours later
The ex-husband, of a Texas woman who’s lifeless body was found in a remote Texas wasteland has been charged with kidnapping after ‘he was seen forcing his mother-of-three ex-wife, 37, into a rented SUV’ before she was found dead in a field 24 hours later. Mother-of-three Melissa Banda was found dead last week having last been seen alive a day earlier when her ex-husband allegedly forced her into an SUV.
Banda, 37, of McAllen was reportedly kidnapped last Thursday by Richard Ford, 40, and her lifeless body was found just over 24 hours later in a rural stretch of Hidalgo County on Friday.
Ford was arrested late Thursday shortly after witnesses dialed 911 at 3:49pm to report they had observed him forcing Banda into a rented white Dodge SUV, a release from the McAllen Police Department said.
Banda who had a protective order against Ford accused him of violating that order on June 30 after he allegedly called her, staying silent on the line.
Mother-of-three Melissa Banda [photo], was reportedly kidnapped last Thursday by her ex Richard Ford in McAllen, Texas. Her lifeless body was found just over 24 hours later in a rural stretch of Hidalgo County, on Friday
Investigators are seen combing the rural stretch when Melissa Banda’s body was found on Friday. The gruesome discovery was made less than 24 hours after her ex-husband was seen abducting her silent on the line
Texas law enforcement located and arrested Richard Ford in a parking lot near the beach on South Padre Island Thursday evening, however his estranged wife was still missing.
A desperate search to find the mother-of-three continued through Thursday night before coming to a tragic head late Friday, when her ‘lifeless’ body was found by Hidalgo County Sheriffs at 11:33pm.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery of her body also remains unclear and pending the outcome of an autopsy, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s office has not revealed cause and manner of death for the mother-of-three.
Banda’s sister, Cindy Banda, eulogized her in a Facebook post after her body was found, remembering her sibling as ‘the best sister you could ever ask for,’ adding that Melissa was her ‘everything’.
A GoFundMe meant to benefit Melissa Banda’s three young children raised over $19,000 out of a $20,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.
Banda leaves behind three children, ages six, 10, and 12, according to a GoFundMe Page set up to benefit them.
‘Melissa Banda was a young, beautiful, smart and kind woman,’ Jennifer Cardenas wrote in tribute on the fundraiser. ‘She was the mother of 3 children who meant the world to her.
‘She coached her daughters’ soccer team, worked full time, and was always willing to help out those less fortunate.’
Extreme stalking: The victim Banda [photo], had a protective order against her ex. On June 30 she accused him of violating that order after he allegedly called her, staying
Banda had a protective order against Ford. slightly more than a month prior She accused him of violating that order when he allegedly called her. Concerned for her safety, a desperate search to find the mother-of-three continued through Thursday night before coming to a tragic head when Banda’s ‘lifeless’ body was found by Hidalgo County Sheriffs on Friday evening.
Police investigating the incident with assistance from the FBI and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, determined the car used in the apparent abduction was a rental car. Authorities found the suspect’s car near the McAllen airport.
According to the news release, officers determined the car used in the apparent abduction, a white Dodge SUV, was “at or near Beach Access 5 at South Padre Island.” in Cameron County.
Officers arrested Ford, who had outstanding warrants for violation of a court order and harassment.
Banda and Ford were married in July 2008, records on the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office’s website indicate. It’s unclear when the pair divorced as Hidalgo County doesn’t make divorce records public, KRGV reported.
Deputies in Hidalgo, Texas launched a desperate search to find the abducted mother-of-three through Thursday night before her ‘lifeless’ body was found by Hidalgo County Sheriffs at 11:33pm, Friday
In the weeks prior to her death, Banda accused Ford of violating a protective order she had taken out against him.
On June 30, she reported to police that ‘her ex-husband, Richard Ford had called her that morning … when answering the call Richard stayed quiet on the line … there is currently a protection order which prohibits him from making any contact with her,’ a news release states.
A warrant was issued for Ford’s arrest for a violating a court and for harassment. He was initially taken into custody on those charges after Banda’s disappearance and before her body was discovered.
He was later charged with aggravated kidnapping by McAllen Police. He was booked into county jail Saturday with his bond set at $2.5 million.
Ford’s lawyer Sergio J. Sanchez, Saturday filed a motion seeking a bail reduction and release from jail for lack of probable cause.
Ford records show, has a violent criminal history spanning back to February 1998, when he was charged for striking a victim with his hand in November 1997, causing ‘bodily injury’, the complaint states.
Violent criminal history: Murder suspect Richard Ford [seen in his 2002 mugshot], back in Feb 1998, was charged for striking a victim, causing ‘bodily injury’. In 2002 he was charged with attempted murder
He pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 days in Hidalgo County Jail, issued a $300 fine and place on community supervision for 180 days.
Two years later, he pled guilty to attempting to commit murder in August 2002 in connection to an incident in April 2001. The court sentenced him to eight years deferred probation and 240 hours of community service.
Then in February 2020 year, he was arrested after being accused of assaulting a family member by impeding circulation – the act of applying physical pressure to a person’s throat or face, inhibiting their ability to breathe.
Ford is expected to be arraigned Monday in relation to Banda’s disappearance.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating her death.
‘HCSO Major Crimes Unit will take lead on the Capital Murder Investigation,’ Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. Guerra said in a tweet.
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