SAN JACINTO COUNTY, TX- Robert Clary faced up to 99 years in prison for the brutal murder of his neighbor, TDCJ Corrections Officer Rhonda Richardson (aka Rhonda Israel), but he took a plea agreement. In exchange for changing his plea to guilty, the 67-year-old convicted felony will be sentenced to 30 years in prison. San Jacinto County District Attorney said Clary will not even be notified of parole eligibility for 15 years, when he’s 82. If he’s still alive at that point, the brutality of the crime, killing a neighbor lady, and his behavior following the murder will undoubtedly be considered.
On Thursday, Robert Dale Clary, of Shepherd, pleaded guilty to the Murder of Rhonda Darline Richardson nee Israel, also of Shepherd, in the 411th District Court of San Jacinto County, Judge John Wells presiding. Richardson’s family was present, and her daughter provided a victim impact statement immediately following sentencing.
The plea is the final chapter in an investigation that began with Richardson was found murdered in a wooded area near her home of FM 2025 in May of 2019. At that time, San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives arrived to a gruesome crime scene. A combined response from county, state and federal investigators identified several potential suspects, but further investigation narrowed on Clary. However, authorities lacked sufficient evidence to formally charge and proceed with murder charges against Clary by the end of 2020.
In 2022, at the request of both the Sheriff and District Attorney’s Office, a team of independent investigators, analysts and prosecutors attached to Cold Justice reviewed the case files and conducted new interviews of potential evidence. Most significantly, new digital evidence from both Richardson and Clary’s phone, corroborated by a new witness definitively linked Clary to the murder. Clary was scheduled for jury trial on April 29th, 2024, but pled immediately following.
Richardson worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a Corrections Officer for many years at several different units, most recently at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston. To this day, visitors and staff pass by memorial benches in honor of Richardson, known by her coworkers and friends as ‘Rhonda Israel’.
Criminal District Attorney Todd Dillon and First Assistant Rob Freyer thanked the dedicated professionals of the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office, especially Detective Gary Sharpen, who doggedly pursued justice on behalf of Richardson’s family over the past five years. Detective Sharpen exemplifies the professionalism and determination of Texas law enforcement. Thanks is also due to all investigators and analysts with Cold Justice, who saw to it that justice was done by Richardson. “Let this case be a reminder to all who prey on the residents of San Jacinto County,” Dillon said. “Even if it takes years, what is done in the dark will be brought to the light. Rhonda was beloved by family, friends and coworkers; she was looking forward to being there for them in retirement. Clary took that future away from her, so it is only fitting that he surrenders his.”
