James L. Rickards, 41, was shot to death in the early morning hours of July 25, 2013, inside his home on North Berry Bramble Falls near Millsboro, Delaware. He and his girlfriend were in their bedroom when two masked men wearing dark clothing, baseball caps, and bandanas entered and demanded money. Moments later Rickards was shot multiple times; his girlfriend was left physically unharmed. First responders arrived shortly after 1 a.m., and detectives quickly identified Rickards as the victim.

Investigators concluded early on that the break-in did not appear random and that Rickards may have been specifically targeted. Suspect descriptions remained limited—two males with faces covered, one reportedly armed with a handgun—and no vehicle description was publicly confirmed. No arrests were announced and no recovery of stolen property was reported. The Delaware State Police continue to list the killing as an open Cold Case Unit investigation. If anyone has information about that night or the identities of the masked intruders, please come forward.