Steve Watkins, a 41-year-old man from Hamilton, Ohio, was tragically shot to death on June 18, 2014. He was found dead inside a back room of a house on Hilda Avenue, alongside Lacey Rutherford, 29, who was also killed in the incident. Watkins was the boyfriend of Lacey Rutherford, and the two had been dating for about two months before their deaths. Watkins was described by friends as a good person who was trying to get his life back on track.
He had recently reconnected with his daughter and was looking forward to meeting his newborn grandson.
The suspect in the double homicide was Alfred "Ike" Rutherford, Lacey Rutherford's father. Alfred Rutherford was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and one count of obstruction of official business. He was taken into custody about nine hours after the shooting, found at Joyce Park in Hamilton, and held on a $2 million bond. During the investigation, police discovered multiple firearms in the home, including at least nine guns.
Alfred Rutherford later admitted to the killings, claiming that the argument with his daughter over a missing handgun, which he believed had been pawned for drugs, led to the tragic events. He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder for the death of Steve Watkins and one count of murder for the death of Lacey Rutherford. As part of his plea deal, Rutherford avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case was particularly heart-wrenching as it occurred during a children's sleepover at the home, with several children present during the shooting. The incident left a lasting impact on the community and the families involved.
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