Kenny Richey falls for quiet life in America

Published on Tuesday 21 April 2009 10:21

KENNY RICHEY is considering staying in the United States permanently following the death of his father, despite the offer of his first job since leaving Death Row falling through.

The 44-year-old former inmate flew to the US to be with his father Jim before he died following a long battle with prostate cancer.

Richey said he enjoyed the "peace and tranquility" of life in Camano Island in Washington State, where he is currently staying with his step-mother.

Richey could face a trip back to the Capital in the coming weeks, however, as he has run out of medication for his heart condition and has been suffering palpitations.

Richey said: "My dad was pretty far gone when I arrived there. He didn't recognise me at first because he was in a bad way, although he did later.

"I ended up holding his hand as he passed away. It was very upsetting for the whole family but I was glad I was able to say goodbye like that.

"I'm staying with my step-mother now and things are going well. She needs help round the house and the garden so that's keeping me busy.

"There's a lot of peace and tranquility here, which had given me the chance to clear my head.

"There's not a shop for two miles and a pub for five miles. It's beautiful and quiet and nobody knows me here. I can just relax.

I'm thinking about staying back in the States again, but there are some problems with that. I've run out of heart medication and I'm not sure how I can get more. I was on the NHS back in Edinburgh, but I'd have to pay here and it's expensive.

I had to get a tooth pulled out a few days ago and it cost $345 to see a dentist."

Richey had been staying with his mother Eileen, 64, at her Gorgie flat after spending seven months on remand facing assault charges before the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.

He revealed that he had spoken to his American ex-wife, Wendy Amerud, on the phone in the last few days, but they had not met up since he returned to the US.

Richey also plans to see his son, Sean, as well as his two grandchildren, Taliyah and Taiton.

He said his step-brother wanted to take him on as a partner in his landscaping business, but the firm has been hit by the recession and cannot hire new workers now.