A man was killed at Rooty Creek Friday and two men are in Putnam County jail facing murder charges in connection with his death.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills identified the victim as 19-year-old Zachary Brandon Smith. Sills said Smith was living in Milledgeville, but the address on his driver’s license is in Eatonton.
Two Madison men were arrested a few hours later. Michael David Ludwick, 20, was charged with murder; and his father, Joshua David Ludwick, 38, was charged with murder as a party to the crime.
Sills said a woman went to Rooty Creek looking for Smith because it had been awhile since she heard from him, and there she discovered his body and called 911 around 6:40 p.m. Friday. When deputies arrived, they saw Smith’s body lying face down in the creek. Smith had been shot multiple times with a rifle, Sills said. During their investigation, Sills and his Chief of Staff Russell Blenk, Detectives Chris Harper and J.D. Turk, and Deputies Hollie Collins and Daniel Boutwell learned a teenager witnessed the shooting, which happened upstream on Rooty Creek about 4:30 p.m.
The witness provided authorities details about the shooting, including the vehicle, a Red Dodge SUV that the shooter and his accomplice were in. Using Flock cameras, Sills and Blenk learned the Dodge was registered to Joshua David Ludwick.
Sills got warrants for both of the Ludwicks’ arrest, and notified Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. He also talked with Joshua Ludwick on the phone and learned there was a lot of guns and ammunition in the house, so Walton County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team also was called in to help.
The father, Joshua Ludwick, was outside waiting for authorities across the street from the house.
“He was later taken into custody and has been cooperative with us, and actually been of assistance,” Sills said.
Michael Ludwick, who is the accused trigger man according to Sills, did not come out and surrender when told to.
“He did not open the door and he did not comply with orders to show his hands and step forward, so he was forcibly subdued but without further resistance,” Sills told The Eatonton Messenger Monday.
Both men went before Putnam County Magistrate Christyne Holmes Monday morning for their first appearance hearing to ensure they understood their charges and rights. They were not offered bond because only a Superior Court Judge can set bond on murder charges.
Regarding the charges against Joshua Ludwick, Sills explained that in many states, someone who didn’t actually commit the murder but was an accomplice is charged with “an accessory”.
“But in Georgia law, that’s called acting as a party to the crime,” he said. “That’s the legal term, so both people get charged with the murder.”
As of The Messenger’s press time, Sills said the motive for the murder “appears to be an insignificant discord,” but emphasized the investigation is ongoing. He expressed his appreciation to Morgan County and Walton County sheriff’s offices for their assistance in the arrests.