LINCOLN RUTLEDGE FOUND GUILTY OF 2016 AGGRAVATED MURDER OF SWAT OFFICER STEVEN SMITH, ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SWAT OFFICERS THIVENER AND WHITE, AND FELONIOUS ASSAULT OF SWAT OFFICERS PRESTEL AND PALMER

Posted on 6/22/2017

Defendant: Lincoln Scott Rutledge

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien stated today, “Lincoln Rutledge was found guilty of murdering a 27 year veteran of the Columbus Police Department, the attempted murder of 2 other SWAT officers, and the felonious assault of 2 additional SWAT officers.”  O’Brien has announced that following a 15 day jury trial, Lincoln Scott Rutledge, age 45 has been found guilty of the aggravated murder of SWAT officer Steven M. Smith, age 54, that occurred on April 10th, 2016, at 14 W. California Avenue in Clintonville.  Rutledge was also found guilty for the aggravated arson that occurred the day before, on April 9th, 2016 at his estranged wife’s home located at 533 Fairlawn Drive in Clintonville.  In total, Rutledge was found guilty today of two counts of Aggravated Murder, two counts of Attempted Murder, four counts of Felonious Assault, and one count of Aggravated Arson in this death penalty case.  The mitigation phase in this capital murder trial is scheduled to start next Monday, June 26th, 2017 at 9:00 am in courtroom 6E at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.