A Pope County court has sentenced Theoplus Cardell Richmond to 135 months in prison for third-degree murder after he sold fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of Tyler Kirckof in Glenwood, Minnesota. Richmond pleaded guilty to the charge on October 20, 2025.
The incident occurred on February 20, 2021. According to court records, Teresa Massey drove Richmond from Minneapolis to Glenwood to deliver fentanyl to Kirckof, in a transaction arranged by Samuel Long. After using the drugs, Kirckof overdosed and died. An autopsy found his death was caused by toxicity from fentanyl and methamphetamine. Massey had previously been convicted of aiding and abetting the drug sale, while Long was convicted of aiding and abetting third-degree murder.
Richmond’s prosecution was handled by Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office following a referral from Pope County Attorney Neil Nelson under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01. This statute allows the attorney general to appear in criminal cases at the request of a county attorney. Generally, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office handles civil matters and does not have prosecuting authority over most criminal acts unless referred under this provision or involving Medicaid fraud; such authority usually resides with city and county attorneys.
“I’m keeping Tyler’s friends, family, and loved ones in my prayers,” said Attorney General Ellison. “What happened to Tyler is a tragedy — one that is far too familiar for so many families across Minnesota. The scourge of fentanyl has caused so much harm and grief in every corner of our state, and I’m committed to doing everything in my power to protect Minnesotans from it. Yesterday, we held accountable the man who provided Tyler the fentanyl that took his life. I will continue working alongside law enforcement to prosecute people who sell or aid in the sale of this deadly drug.”
Attorney General Ellison expressed gratitude toward several agencies for their roles in investigating the case: the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood Police Department, and Starbuck Police Department.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is based at 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul.
