One victim IDs his attacker in shooting that killed woman

Gunshot victim Robert Edwards, 54, talked to emergency medical technicians and investigators early Saturday before he was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

He identified Joseph James Rutledge, 42, of St. Mary, Missouri, as the man who shot him twice and killed a woman with a 20-guage shotgun just after midnight Saturday, according to a probable-cause statement from Perry County sheriff's deputy Jason Kelley.

Rutledge shot his estranged wife Mary Rutledge, 49, of St. Mary once as she exited Edwards' 2003 Buick Century, according to the statement. Mary Rutledge died at the scene near 81 Wesley Drive in St. Mary.

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said Edwards was alive Monday but in critical condition. Edwards was shot twice in his right side. Joseph Rutledge thought he had killed Edwards, according to the statement.

Mary and Joseph Rutledge still were married but had been separated about a month, Kelley wrote. Mary Rutledge started dating Edwards about the time she separated from Joseph Rutledge, upsetting him, Kelley wrote.

Mary Rutledge and Edwards stopped at mailboxes at the intersection of Wesley Drive and Perry County Road 844, and they were confronted by Joseph Rutledge in his Chevrolet Silverado truck.

As Joseph Rutledge began an argument with Mary Rutledge, her son and grandson left the Buick and walked toward the house, according to the statement. Rutledge's truck then struck Edwards' car head-on three times, Kelley wrote.

Mary Rutledge's other son, Paul McGee, and his girlfriend, Tasha Keelin, were with Joseph Rutledge at the house at 81 Wesley Drive, which lists as his address, before the incident and said he was "ranting and raving," according to the statement. They said Joseph Rutledge had been awake for three days because he was using methamphetamine, Kelley wrote.

McGee and Keelin fell asleep about 9:30 p.m. but woke up when the grandson went to the residence crying, and they heard the impact of one vehicle striking the other nearby, according to the statement.

Keelin said she heard two gunshots and saw a muzzle flash from Joseph Rutledge's vehicle, Kelley wrote.

Rutledge then entered the residence and told McGee, "You better call the cops, 'cause I shot your f---ing mom, and I killed them both," according to the statement.

McGee recovered the shotgun after Rutledge placed it on the floor and ejected one live round from the weapon, Kelley wrote.

McGee turned the shotgun over to deputy Bethany Zarcone when deputies arrived, according to the statement.

Deputy Benjamin Davis read Rutledge his Miranda rights as he was arrested and driven to the Perry County Sheriff's Office, according to the statement. Schaaf said Rutledge surrendered peacefully.

On the drive to the station, Rutledge said he was jumped and the couple was throwing rocks at him, Kelley wrote. Schaaf said deputies saw Rutledge's head was scratched, but they have not determine why.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 81 Wesley Dr., St. Mary, MO