Ohio man arrested for murder, rape case ruled repeat offender

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A man charged in a woman’s death that police described as a “brutal attack” faced additional charges Wednesday.

Arthur Scott Jr., 36, was charged, this time in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, in connection with the death of 61-year-old Li-Chu-Lin. Originally charged with kidnapping, rape and murder, Scott was charged with two counts: aggravated murder, kidnapping, rape, aggravated burglary and strangulation or suffocation.

All six counts contain at least one statement: repeat violent offender, sexually violent predator, sexual motivation, or all three.

The current charges stem from the April 26 death of Lin, whose body was found at the Double Ten Hotel near State Route 161 and Interstate 71 on the city’s north side. Police said a digital forensics detective conducted video surveillance throughout the hotel and saw Scott Jr. walking down the hallway and checking the doors.

Scott Jr. reportedly entered a room with a baseball bat before the victim later entered the same room. Video evidence then showed Scott leaving the room.

Lin was found unclothed in her room around 7:15 p.m. Investigators found a hat worn by the suspect in the video and blood on the bed. There was evidence that other crimes were committed, including rape.

In the early morning hours of April 27, Scott Jr. was found near the hotel, police said. He was taken to Columbus police headquarters, where he reportedly admitted to the murder and other crimes.

Scott Jr.’s other crimes in his past included those in Cuyahoga County, where he pleaded guilty in 2020 to aggravated robbery, kidnapping and assault, as well as burglary for two separate incidents in 2020 and one in 2016.

One of the 2020 incidents included an attempted rape charge, which was not part of the amended plea agreement. Scott Jr. was sentenced to three years in the Lorain Correctional Facility.

On April 29, he was granted a $2 million bond in Franklin County Municipal Court for Lin’s murder. He is scheduled to appear in Common Pleas Court for an arraignment hearing on Wednesday.