Man convicted in cold case receives 30-year sentence

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SJNT staff

Robert Dale ClaryCOLDSPRING — Robert Dale Clary, 67, of Shepherd, convicted in a 5-year-old murder case, recently was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Clary pleaded guilty on March 25 to the murder of 59-year-old Rhonda Darline Richardson of Shepherd, in 411th District Court before Judge John Wells.

District Attorney Todd Dillon said the plea is the final chapter in an investigation that began when Richardson was found murdered in a wooded area near her home near FM 2025 in May 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 focused on Clary. However, authorities lacked sufficient evidence to bring charges against Clary by the end of 2020.

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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 examinations of potential evidence, Dillon said.

New digital evidence from both Richardson and Clary’s phones, corroborated by a witness, linked Clary to the murder. Clary was arrested Oct. 31, 2022, and was scheduled for jury trial on April 29.

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.

Dillon and First Assistant Rob Freyer said they would like to thank the professionals of the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office, especially Detective Gary Sharpen, who pursued justice on behalf of Richardson’s family over the past five years.

“Sharpen exemplifies the professionalism and determination of Texas law enforcement,” he said. “Thanks is also due to all investigators and analysts with (the TV show) ‘Cold Justice,’ who saw to it that justice was done for 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.”