MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Berkeley County woman has been convicted of 2nd degree murder in the May 2021 shooting death of her ex-husband.
Berkeley County Prosecutor Catie Wilkes Deligatti said a jury has found Rida Hendershot, 31, of Martinsburg, guilty of second degree murder and a firearms charge in the death of Matt Hendershot, 33.
The trial lasted five days and the jury deliberated for five hours.
“It was the most witnesses I’ve ever had in a trial. We had 15 witnesses – gun experts, domestic violence experts. It was rewarding that the jury viewed the evidence and rendered a verdict that’s going to bring some comfort to the family,” Deligatti said.
“It wasn’t a Whodunit. We knew that she did it. It was all about whether or not it was an accident. The victim wasn’t here, so we figure out how to make his voice heard throughout the trial.”
Hendershot told police the pair had been back together and were in love.
“They were able to determine (through text messages and social media) that they were not actually back together,” according to Deligatti.
Hendershot told investigators the gun went off accidentally. “The firearm would have had to be cocked, have the safety off, have the grip safety engaged and the trigger pulled,” Deligatti said.
“We had our lab in Charleston do extensive testing on the firearm. It was in perfect working condition. There was nothing that would just make the gun go off,”
Hendershot faces 10-40 years, Deligatti said her office is pursuing the full 40. She says Rida Hendershot meant to kill her husband.
“We’re going to ask for 40. We have no doubt that this is something that she meant to do, she intended to do, what her motivations were and (we) would have concerns for the community if we asked for less than that.”
Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon praised the work of the prosecutors and his deputies.
“I cannot be more proud of the hard work our Deputies put into ensuring that the truth was revealed through their meticulous investigation into the Hendershot Murder,” Harmon said. “What began as what was stated as an ‘accidental’ shooting into a revelation of a hidden domestic situation. The unrelenting search and dedication for the truth by our Deputies resulted in a just verdict and some closure for the victim’s family, but even more important, the Deputies were able to speak for the victim that lead to the ultimate conviction of the perpetrator. “