Suspect in murder of Chesterland father in Put-in-Bay jailed on $1.6M bond

PORT CLINTON, Ohio (WJW) — A 21-year-old Michigan man is being held on a $1.6 million bond in the murder of a Geauga County father of four, who had visited Put-in-Bay to celebrate his 40th birthday with his wife.

It was the island’s first murder in nearly a decade, authorities said.

Suspect indicted in Put-in-Bay murder of father of 4

Colton Z. Smith, 21, was indicted this week on felony counts of murder, tampering with evidence, improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises, court records show.

On Thursday afternoon, he pleaded not guilty before Ottawa County Common Pleas Court Judge Bruce Winters, who set his bond at $1 million for his murder charge and $100,000 for his six other charges.

Smith is accused of shooting and killing 39-year-old Rob Russell, of Chesterland, on Thursday, July 23, at Mr. Ed’s Bar & Grille, 272 Delaware Ave…

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