On May 1 about 3:30 p.m. detectives with the Wichita Falls Police Department served a capital murder warrant on Byron Rickard, 42, for the murder of Ruby Ditto, 91.

When the warrant was served, Rickard was currently in custody at the Wichita County jail on an unrelated charge.

On April 28, about 4:30 p.m. officers with the WFPD responded to a possible robbery in the 200 block of North Beverly. 

Upon arrival they observed in the backyard of a residence, a female, who was identified as Ditto, being treated by members of the Wichita Falls Fire Department and American Medical Response for a head injury. 

Ditto was transported to United Regional Health Care to be treated for the head injuries where she ultimately died from her injuries two days later.

Officers spoke with a witness who stated that early they had seen Ditto speaking with a subject in the backyard. A few minutes later the witness observed Ditto’s pickup truck leaving the scene. Shortly after that the witness went outside and observed Ditto on the ground at which time they called 911.

Ditto’s pickup truck was located later that day in the 2100 block of Garfield along with Rickard. 

At that time Rickard showed to have a warrant for his arrest for an aggravated assault that had taken place in December of 2018. Click here for that story.

Rickard was arrested at approximately 4:15 p.m. and transported to the Wichita County jail on that warrant.