The Murder of Richard Bailey
For this case I watched the newest episode of See No Evil. It’s season 7 episode 3, titled ‘In His Father’s Footsteps.’
A 22 year old college student, just shy of graduation is murdered.
Background
Richard Bailey was a 22 year old student at the University of Albany. He wanted to become a police officer, just like his dad, James. James had just retired from the NYPD. Rick had just taken the entrance exam for the NYPD, and was confident that he had done well.
Richard or Rick as he was known as, was described as being one of the nicest guys anyone has ever met. His close friend, Steve, said Richard never got into any fights with his friends and everyone loved being around him.
Rick Bailey
A Few Days Earlier
Rick’s parents, Lisa and James, lived on Long Island, and they said Rick would come home and visit every weekend. Rick always brought his laundry and came home for a good family meal.
On October 17, 2008, it was like any other weekend. Rick came home, and left with some chicken wings that his mom had made. They said goodbye to him, not knowing that was the last time they would see their son.
The Murder
On October 20, 2008, Rick was over at his friend Steve’s house, and they were watching a football game. Steve said that they were watching a Patriots game, and it was a blowout. Rick told Steve he was tired, and he left to walk the three blocks to his apartment.
Around 11:20pm, a 911 call came in to the Albany police. The caller said she heard a gunshot, and then saw a man laying down on the sidewalk. She said the two men rode away on bikes.
The police arrived, and found Rick barely alive on the ground. He had been shot in the head, but there was no murder weapon at the scene. He was rushed to the hospital. The 911 caller also gave her statement. She said she saw two young men riding away on their bikes. She said one man was wearing a gray hoodie, but that’s all she could see.
There was no evidence at the scene, and no other witnesses. The police needed to find surveillance cameras from around the area.
Investigation
Detective Jason Vogel said surveillance wasn’t as great as it in now, and many people didn’t have home security systems. The police needed to find cameras from other businesses and street cameras.
On the first video from an apartment building, the police were able to see two individuals riding their bikes. From the angle and quality of the cameras, it looked as if the hoodies that they were wearing were black. However, eye witness testimony isn’t always accurate. The police were able to track the suspect’s movements.
Meanwhile, the Albany police had to tell Rick’s parents, James and Lisa. They were told that Rick was at the hospital and was now on life support. He was brain dead, and was paralyzed from the neck down. James and Lisa had to do something they probably never imagined, and they turned off the life support. This was now a homicide. They said Rick was an organ donor, and they wanted to turn this tragedy into something positive.
Before the police found more surveillance footage, their next step was to look into any other incidents that happened that night. There had been a robbery just seven minutes after Rick was shot. The police were able to determine where the shooting happened, and realized that WAMC radio station was nearby. They obtained the surveillance from them.
On the video, the police once again saw two individuals riding their bikes. This time they were in a McDonald’s parking lot, and took a left turn and disappeared. The video was very far away, and the police couldn’t make out any facial features or characteristics. The case stalled for awhile, until witnesses started coming forward.
Getting Some Answers
One individual came forward and said they believed that the man responsible for the crime was De Von Calicutt. When the police looked into this individual, they realized he had been arrested one month after Rick’s death. He had been arrested for possession of a weapon, and the police wanted to speak to him.
De Von Calicutt was brought in, and said he was not responsible. He even said he would take a polygraph test, which he passed.
Another witness came forward, and said he saw two individuals at the McDonald’s the night of the murder. He said the individuals were King Modest, 17 and Ricardo Caldwell, 18. The individual’s story matched the evidence from the surveillance footage.
The police still needed evidence before they brought in Modest and Caldwell, and soon they got it. An informant came forward and said he could get King to talk about that night. He convinced the police to let him wear a wire and when he brought the tape back, they were stunned.
A Confession
On the tape, King Modest is heard telling his friend aka the informant, that he and Ricardo were there that night, but only as lookouts. He said that ‘Cut’ was the shooter, and they were out looking to rob someone not kill.
King Modest and Ricardo Caldwell were brought in for questioning, and the police were shocked at how young they were. King and Ricardo both were asked who ‘Cut’ was, and they said De Von Calicutt. The same De Von that had just come in and passed a polygraph test.
The police obtained a warrant for De Von’s phone records, and saw that his phone put him at the crime scene on the night of the murder.
King and Ricardo were both taken to walk throughs of the crime scene, they were interviewed separately, but their stories matched.
Arrests and Convictions
On October 20, 2008, De Von, King and Ricardo started out by gambling, and they had lost a lot of money. De Von, being the leader, told them that he wanted to rob people. They were out looking for their victims, when they came across Rick Bailey, who was just walking home from a friend’s house.
Ricardo and De Von rode up to Rick, while King was the lookout. They attempted to rob him and De Von shot him in the head. Ricardo and King then fled, and De Von committed a second robbery alone.
King Modest and Ricardo Caldwell both pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and received lighter sentences in exchange for their testimony. King Modest was sentenced to 1o years in prison, and Ricardo Caldwell received 12.
King Modest
De Von Calicutt was convicted of attempted robbery and first degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
De Von Calicutt
Rick’s dad, James, said this:
“It’s never going to bring Rick back. I don’t know if the right word is ‘closure, “but we’re just so happy this day has finally come.”
Other
The Albany PD made Rick Bailey a honorary police officer.
Every year, Rick’s family holds a football tournament in his honor and raise money for various charities.
De Von Calicutt sued the Albany PD for $160,000 and made an allegation that they beat him during his interview in 2008.
It wouldn’t let me save and post a picture of Ricardo Caldwell, but you can see it on the linked sources and Google
FINAL THOUGHTS
The police said that it takes a special kind of person to be able to lie and pass a polygraph test, and actually be the one who’s responsible for robbing and murdering someone, and committing a second robbery. I agree, and I think De Von should be locked up forever. He’s a sick person, and I don’t think he’s sorry for what he did. I also don’t think he was attacked by the police as he claims, he’s doing everything he can to bring attention onto himself.
I also think that 10 and 12 years are awfully light for people who confessed to being their that night. They also didn’t call 911 or come forward until someone else admitted that they were the ones responsible. It’ll be scary knowing that these two individuals will be back on the streets in the near future.
Sources
https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/3-charged-in-killing-of-student-553914.php
