(L.A.) Noah Rutherford III, 50, Died in a Convalescent Home

Case Number: 2020-01026

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 50-year-old Caucasian male that occurred in a convalescent home.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Noah Rutherford III.

Manner of Death: Homicide

Cause of Death: Blunt Head Trauma

Other Significant Condition: Sharp-Force Injuries

RIP NOAH EMANUELL RUTHERFORD III (January 16, 1970 – February 2, 2020)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Sunday at 7:10 p.m.

Incident date: November 29, 2019

Incident Location: Kern Valley State Prison
3000 W Cecil Avenue, Delano, CA 93215

Place of Death: Ellison John Care Facility
43830 10th St West #307, Lancaster, CA 93534

On June 10, 2021, defendant Steven Law pled guilty to murder charges in the death of his cell mate, Noah Rutherford III.

What Happened?

On November 29, 2019, guards at Kern Valley State Prison noticed that there was blood spattered insides Law’s cell where he was housed with Rutherford.

Upon entering the cell, guards found Rutherford on the floor, unresponsive and covered with blood. Law informed the guards that he had beat his cell mate with the intent to kill him. Rutherford succumbed to the injuries several weeks later on February 2, 2020.

Law pled guilty to first-degree murder. As a result of the plea, Law received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

What Were They in Prison For?

Rutherford was admitted from Los Angeles County on January 4, 2018, to serve a 30-year sentence for 18 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under 14 with force/violence/fear.

Law had been taken in on March 20, 2018, from Tulare County to serve a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole for second-degree robbery, a second-strike offense, with personal use of a dangerous or deadly weapon.

To Recap:

The convicted robber surnamed LAW murdered the sex offender surnamed Rutherford. Even before the murder, LAW was already serving a sentence of life in prison. After being convicted of the murder of the child molester, LAW was deprived of the possibility of parole.

* Rutherford’s remains were not claimed by any kin. The county cremated his body on March 24, 2020.