WAYNE COUNTY, IL — A 40-year-old Kentucky man accused of murdering a Wayne County Sheriff’s deputy has now been charged in Missouri, with 14 various crimes stemming from December crime spree through the two states. Ray Tate is charged in Wayne County Circuit Court in Illinois with 38 counts including first degree murder of Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley in December 2021.

Troopers say Deputy Riley stopped to assist Tate after a motorist assist was called in by a passerby. Following a brief encounter with Tate, Deputy Riley requested emergency assistance. When other law enforcement officers arrived, they say they found Deputy Riley’s body and his cruiser was gone. Authorities say Tate fled in Deputy Riley’s cruiser before hijacking a semi-truck driver. Police said the driver of the semi was held against his will and was forced to drive Tate to a gas station in St. Peters, Missouri. St. Peters police confirmed a shooting and carjacking happened at the QuikTrip on Main Street that morning. Tate reportedly drove away from the gas station in the man’s car.

Tate has been charged with 14 counts by St. Charles County prosecutors. Federal charges may also be coming. The stolen vehicle was later found in O’Fallon, Missouri off Highway 70, according to police. Illinois State Police said Tate then went back into Illinois with a kidnapped victim in another stolen car. That car was found near a home in rural Carlyle, Illinois. Police said Tate then committed a home invasion and took the kidnapped victim and the homeowner hostages inside a Carlyle home. ISP and SWAT offices were able to get inside the house and arrested Tate without further incident. The homeowner and the other victim were not injured.

He was transported to the Clinton County Jail where Wayne County authorities set his bail at $5 million.

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