COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A man indicted on a murder charge after a deadly shooting stemming from an alleged domestic incident will serve at least 14 years in prison.
According to court documents, 64-year-old Stewart Butler pleaded guilty to lessor charges in the homicide case of Marchell Freeman, who was shot and killed March 20, 2024 in east Columbus.
Police arrived in the 1700 block of East Sycamore Street in the Driving Park neighborhood at 11:28 p.m. and found Freeman, 60, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead a short time later and Butler was detained at the scene.
Butler was charged with murder with a firearm specification, and felonious assault after what police determined began as a domestic incident turned violent. For a previous report on this story, view the video player above.
An indictment was filed in late March of 2024 and one week ago Butler pleaded to a lessor charge, voluntary manslaughter. A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced Butler to serve at least 14 ½ years in prison, including the three-year firearm specification, with a maximum sentence of up to 19 years.
Butler, who after violating his original bond terms was ordered to home confinement in May during his court proceedings and trial, will receive 53 days of jail time credit.
