Ford
EDINBURG — A judge reduced the bonds on Wednesday morning for a McAllen man accused of kidnapping and murdering his ex-wife two years ago — all as his defense attorney and state prosecutors prepare to take his case to trial.
Richard Ford, 43, was charged with capital murder, assault, violation of a protective order and stalking after he allegedly forced 37-year-old Melissa Banda into a Dodge Journey in broad daylight and cut her throat on Aug. 6, 2020.
On Wednesday, a judge reduced Ford’s bonds from $2,020,000 to $1,295,000.
Ford, who was initially arrested on charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, was initially given a $4.5 million bond.
He appeared in court via Zoom on Tuesday. His defense attorney Jaime Aleman told the judge a witness in the case, who is a federal agent, will be tied up in another trial next week and asked for a short recess or reset.
Prosecutor Michael Garza had no objections and noted there are still “several pre-trial discovery, negotiation matters” to go over.
The judge granted the reset for mid-December.
According to a probable cause affidavit for Ford’s arrest, Banda’s abduction was caught on surveillance video and McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez previously said a nanny witnessed the abduction.
“The video showed that as soon as Ms. Banda arrived at the home, Mr. Ford approached her from behind and grabbed her and covered her mouth,” the affidavit said. “Ms. Banda began to kick and scream and Mr. Ford continued to wrestle with her until he got to the Dodge Journey. Mr. Ford is seen shoving Ms. Banda in the backseat and he gets into the driver seat.”
Police believe Ford cut Banda’s throat less than an hour after kidnapping her and dumped her body in rural Donna.
Ford was arrested at South Padre Island on Aug. 8 by Cameron County Park Rangers after investigators used a GPS installed in the vehicle Ford had rented to track him.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has also said the GPS data places Ford at the location where Banda’s body was found.
Rodriguez said detectives believe the investigation and prosecution will reveal the kidnapping and murder was premeditated.
Ford remained jailed Wednesday at the Hidalgo Adult Detention Center.
