Bio

Arthur Dennis Rutherford was born on March 16, 1949. He grew up in Florida, specifically in Santa Rosa County. As a young man, he joined the military. He served in the Vietnam War. After the war, he returned home and struggled with various issues, including alcohol use and mental health problems. 

Following his time in the military, Rutherford worked as a handyman. He performed odd jobs for various neighbors, including carpentry work. One of his clients was Stella Salamon, a 63-year-old widow who lived alone. She hired him to do odd jobs, such as replacing sliding glass doors in her home. However, shortly after beginning work for her, Salamon became uneasy about Rutherford’s presence. She expressed concerns about him to her friends, indicating that he made her feel nervous.

Murder Story

Arthur Dennis Rutherford murdered Stella Salamon on August 22, 1985. Rutherford was hired by the 63-year-old widow to do odd jobs around her home in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Concerns were raised about his behavior before the crime occurred. On the day of the murder, after a series of troubling interactions, Rutherford was left alone with Salamon.

Following her death, Stella Salamon's body was discovered submerged in her bathtub. She had suffered severe injuries, including head wounds and bruises, and the medical examiner determined that her cause of death was drowning or asphyxiation. Investigators found various fingerprints and palm prints belonging to Rutherford in the bathroom.

Rutherford was arrested the day after the murder when he was found to have cashed a forged check on Salamon's bank account, with assistance from others. Witnesses testified at his trial that he had made statements indicating he planned to rob a woman and leave her in the bathtub, suggesting premeditation. He had also told people about his intention to get money from Salamon before the crime occurred.

At trial, Rutherford was found guilty and sentenced to death. The jury recommended the death penalty with a narrow vote of 7-5. He spent years on death row as his legal team pursued numerous appeals, which included arguments about his mental health and the procedures used for lethal injection.

Rutherford was executed by lethal injection on October 18, 2006. He did not make a final statement before his execution.