Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Circuit Judge Carmen Goodman recently found Matthew Rutledge, 41, of Joliet, guilty of three counts of First Degree Murder (a Class M felony), one count of Attempt First Degree Murder (a Class X felony), and one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (a Class X felony) in the 2019 shooting of a man and his sister on the sidewalk of a street in Joliet. The verdict follows a bench trial that started May 16 and concluded recently.
On December 20, 2019, Quentin Woods and his sister Tiffany Williams, with whom Rutledge had been in a relationship, had gone to Rutledge’s residence in the 800 block of Sherwood Place looking for money that was missing from a withdrawal she had made earlier that day. Rutledge and his wife were home at the time and an argument ensued. Rutledge pulled out a gun and both victims ran. Rutledge shot Woods 10 times and Tiffany once. Woods suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head, neck, left shoulder, back, abdomen, and other areas, and was found dead on the sidewalk from his injuries.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 17. Rutledge is eligible for a sentence of 45 years to life in the Illinois Department of Corrections.