Bio

Sherman Lee Rutledge was born on November 25, 1971. He grew up in Arizona. As a teenager, Rutledge became involved in crime. This involvement led to his first arrest.

In his early twenties, Rutledge continued to have legal problems. He spent some time in prison, which further shaped his experiences. After being released from prison, he found himself in a challenging environment that contributed to his decisions.

According to reports, Rutledge had a complicated life with relationships and friendships that were often troubled. He was known to have been involved in activities that put him in risky situations.

Murder Story

On May 13, 1997, Sherman Lee Rutledge lured Chase Clayton and Ryan Harris to Madison Park in Maricopa County, Arizona. Rutledge intended to steal Clayton's vehicle. When they arrived at the park, Rutledge got out of the back seat of the vehicle and went to the passenger side. His younger brother attacked Chase Clayton with a glass bottle and a knife. While this was happening, Rutledge shot Ryan Harris, who was sitting in the passenger seat. The bullet struck Harris, causing him to bleed to death.

After the shooting, Rutledge pulled Harris' body from the vehicle. He also attempted to kill Chase Clayton as he fled from the scene, shooting at him multiple times and hitting him once in the shoulder. Rutledge and his brother then took Clayton's Ford Explorer and drove it around Mesa for several days. They later set the vehicle on fire to destroy evidence of the crime.

Sherman Rutledge was arrested the following day. During questioning by police, he denied any involvement in the incidents and claimed he had never met Clayton and Harris. At his trial, a majority of witnesses identified him as the shooter, although one witness later recanted his identification of Rutledge while testifying. Nonetheless, the jury found Rutledge guilty of first-degree murder for Harris's death and attempted murder for the attack on Clayton.

On April 12, 2001, he was sentenced to death, but he was resentenced to life in prison on March 3, 2004, following appeals and legal proceedings regarding his case.