Man arrested in murder case labeled as repeat offender, faces additional charges

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man charged in the death of a woman that police called a “brutal attack” faced additional charges Wednesday.

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

During his arraignment hearing, he pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond. The judge said they will schedule a bond hearing at a later date.

All six charges include at least one specification of being a 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 forensic detective processed video surveillance throughout the hotel and saw Scott Jr. walking down the hallway, checking doors.

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

Lin was found in her room without any clothes on at around 7:15 p.m. Detectives found a hat the suspect wore in the video and blood on the bed. Evidence indicated other crimes occurred, including rape.

During the early hours of April 27, Scott Jr. was found a short distance from the hotel, police said. He was taken to Columbus police headquarters, where he reportedly admitted to the murder and other crimes.

Among the other crimes in Scott Jr.'s past were those in Cuyahoga County, where he pleaded guilty in 2020 to aggravated robbery, abduction and assault, and Burglary over two separate incidents in 2020 and one in 2016.

One of the 2020 incidents included a charge of attempted rape, which was not part of the amended plea agreement. Scott Jr. was sentenced to serve three years at the Lorain Correctional Institution.

He was issued a $2 million bond for Lin's murder in Franklin County Municipal Court on April 29.