Scrugss convicted of first-degree murder

A Logan County jury took less than three hours to convict Cody Bernard Scrugss guilty of first-degree murder. They needed much less time to determine his punishment.

Scruggs learned his fate early Wednesday afternoon inside the Logan County Courthouse following a three-day trial.

Scruggs was found guilty in the shooting death of 47-year-old Michael Dean Cole back on Jan. 3, 2021, in southern Logan County by a jury of 12. The guilty verdict came in two hours and 38 minutes of jury deliberations.

The same jury recommended life without the possibility of parole meaning the 33-year-old will spend the rest of his days behind bars. The jury took just 12 minutes to decide his punishment.

Scruggs, who had no family members attend the trial, showed zero emotion as both verdicts were read out loud.

Logan County prosecutors called nine witnesses to the stand over two days, including Scruggs’ mother and brother. Meanwhile, Scrugss’ attorney did not call on any witnesses.

Family members testified that Scrugss fired multiple rounds at Cole in front of the residence before walking away. Before the shooting, Scruggs was said to have been “uneasy” and “paranoid.”

Shortly after, an overnight manhunt pursued to locate Scruggs who was not found until the next day when Scruggs’ father called the Logan County Sheriff’s Office telling them that Cody was at his house. Sheriff Damon Devereaux testified he went to the house alone and took Scruggs into custody without incident.

Throughout the trial, a motive was never found as to why Scrugss opened fire on his mother’s common-law husband.

Scruggs’ mother testified that he called her that night of the shooting and said, “He (Cole) shouldn’t have been so mean.” There was no other testimony on what Scrugss may have been referring to in the phone call.

A forensic pathologist testified Cole had been struck with seven maybe eight bullets causing Cole to die quickly.

Despite not finding a firearm involved in the case, investigators determined the weapon was a 9 mm handgun.

Scrugss will be formally sentenced on May 17 at 3 p.m.