Homeless man charged with murder in Scioto County

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman announced that an arrest has been made in connection to an alleged homicide that took place Sept. 1 on Millers Run-Fallen Timber Road in Lucasville.

The 911 communication center received a 9-1-1 call on Monday, Sept. 1 at 9:40 p.m. The caller stated that he had stopped by the residence to check on his friend and had found his friend unresponsive and possibly deceased.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that detectives began investigating the homicide nonstop since it was reported and that they were able to identify a person of interest on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Later that day, after searching several locations, detectives were able to locate the individual inside a business in the City of Portsmouth. This was at 3:23 p.m. 

The suspect was detained and transported to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, where he was later arrested and charged in connection with the homicide.

Arrested was James Paul Ruggles, 33, currently listed as homeless. Ruggles has been charged with aggravated murder, a felony of the first degree; aggravated arson, a felony of the first degree; felonious assault, a felony of the first degree; murder, a felony of the first degree; arson, a felony of the first degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; resisting arrest, a felony of the fourth degree; and obstructing official business, a felony of the fifth degree. 

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that may result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County grand jury on a later date.