Media Release 216- Sexual Assault Investigation- Grandview Hospital
Sexual Assault Investigation
The Birmingham Police Department has launched a sexual assault investigation surrounding an employee of Grandview Hospital.
The suspect has been identified as:
Cornell Richards, (39), B/M, of Birmingham, Alabama.
In September 2022, Special Victims Unit (SVU) detectives learned that a sexual assault had reportedly occurred at Grandview Hospital. The suspect in the incident was described as an employee of Grandview Hospital.
Since then, SVU detectives have learned of at least 2 additional victims who alleged they were sexually assaulted at Grandview Hospital by the same employee.
Birmingham Police detectives presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. The following 5 warrants were issued on Cornell Richards: Rape 1st Degree, Sodomy 1st Degree X’s 2, Sexual Abuse 1st Degree X’s 2.
The Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team arrested Cornell Richards; he is currently in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail with No Bond.
At the time of the alleged assaults, Cornell Richards was an employee of Grandview Hospital. We believe he was employed in a capacity that allowed him to care for patients. Sadly, we believe there are additional victims out there.
BPD is encouraging anyone who may have been victimized by Cornell Richards to call Special Victims Unit detectives directly @ (205) 297-8413 or know there is an additional resource in the One Place Family Justice Center (One Place). One Place Family Justice Center has two BPD SVU detectives on site; One Place staff can be reached @ (205) 453-7261.
We will provide updates on these cases as they become available.
Click here to print
Media Release 216- Sexual Assault Investigation- Grandview Hospital