Homeless man charged with murdering 72-year-old Wichita woman during sex crime

A homeless Wichita man has been charged with killing a 72-year-old woman during a sex crime, and prosecutors could seek the death penalty if the man is convicted.

John Pepper, 55, is charged with capital murder for allegedly killing Rita R. Golden during the commission of an aggravated criminal sodomy. The charge was filed Monday in Sedgwick County District Court.

Golden was found unresponsive in her home on July 15, and an autopsy determined her death was a homicide. A doctor listed her cause of death as high blood pressure combined with an irregular heartbeat — adding that injuries to her body would have resulted in severe stress, causing the cardiac arrhythmia. She had multiple blunt force trauma injuries and possible asphyxia by smothering, as well as emphysema and lung conditions.

The autopsy report said Golden had been letting a homeless man stay in her yard and that he would occasionally come inside to eat or sleep. Golden’s daughter called 911 after she found her lying on the floor of the home in the 2600 block of East 10th Street.

Wichita police officers found the homeless man hiding in a bedroom closet. Golden was pronounced dead.

Prosecutors allege in court documents that “the victim was particularly vulnerable due to age, infirmity, or reduced physical or mental capacity.” Prosecutors say that is an aggravated factor in the case that would be a compelling reason for a departure from the presumptive sentence.

Capital murder is punishable by death in Kansas if it involves an aggravating factor.

District attorneys are required by law to file a notice if they intend to seek the death penalty. No notice had been filed in the case as of Monday afternoon.

Pepper is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond on the capital murder charge. He has been in the jail’s custody since July 16.

Pepper has also been charged with aggravated burglary, theft and criminal damage to property in an unrelated incident from June 28. He has an additional $50,000 bond in that case.