Marion County grand jury indicts man accused of stabbing and killing woman at campground

A Marion man accused of a killing a woman over the Fourth of July weekend at a local campground has been indicted on seven charges, including two counts of murder, by the Marion County grand jury.

Chadwick A. Greenawalt, Sr., age 44, Marion, is accused of stabbing Natalie H. Rudd, age 42, Marion, during an altercation that was reported to 911 dispatchers at 2:33 a.m. on Sunday, July 3 at River Bend Family Campground, 1092 Whetstone River Road South, near Caledonia, according to a press release issued by the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Rudd later died from the wounds she suffered.

According to online records from the Marion County Common Pleas Court, the grand jury indictment issued on July 6 includes the following charges against Greenawalt: two counts of murder, unspecified felony; two counts of involuntary manslaughter, both first-degree felonies; one count of voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; and two counts of felonious assault, both second-degree felonies.

Marion Municipal Court Judge Teresa L. Ballinger set bond for Greenawalt at $500,000 during an arraignment hearing held July 5. He appeared at the hearing via a videoconference link from the Multi-County Correctional Center.

Greenawalt is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Marion County Common Pleas Court.

According to online court records, the case is scheduled to be heard in the court of Judge Matthew P. Frericks.

More: Marion man charged with murder for stabbing death at River Bend Family Campground

More: Marion man arrested after fatal stabbing at River Bend Campground

During the arraignment hearing last Tuesday, Marion County Assistant Prosecutor Jocelyn Stefancin explained to Judge Teresa L. Ballinger that the prosecutor's office requested the $500,000 bond amount "due to the serious nature of the criminal conduct as well as the fact that the suspect fled the scene of the campground before police arrived. We believe that is an indication that he is a flight risk and a risk to the community."

Attorney Edwin M. Bibler of Spitzer Law Offices in Marion argued for a lower bond amount for Greenawalt, stating that the defendant "wasn't gone extremely long before the authorities caught him" and that "he's a lifelong Marion County resident with significant ties to the community, including his children that are sitting in the back of the courtroom. Also, he owns various properties in Marion County."

Bibler also told Judge Ballinger that he was representing Greenawalt "for arraignment purposes only," but did note that he may continue to represent Greenawalt in future proceedings.

The sheriff's press release states that Rudd was "no longer breathing" and "CPR was in progress" when deputies and EMTs from the First Consolidated Fire District arrived on the scene at the River Bend Campground.

Rudd was transported to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital where she later died due to the injuries she had suffered in the incident at the campground. According to a sworn affidavit by Deputy Stacy McCurry of the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Rudd suffered "two stab wounds, one in the abdomen and one in the neck."

Deputy McCurry also stated in the affidavit that "Through investigation it was determined that (Greenawalt) engaged in a physical confrontation with (Rudd), and held her against a picnic table at the campground. Witnesses saw (Greenawalt's) arm move as if he were hitting the woman."

According to witnesses at the scene, Greenawalt fled the campground on a motorcycle and was later stopped by Deputy John Endicott. Deputy McCurry stated in the affidavit that Greenawalt "had blood on his hands when stopped by law enforcement officers."

Greenawalt was transported to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered during the altercation. He was then arrested and transported to the Multi-County Correctional Center.

Sheriff Matt Bayles said that the investigation is still in progress.

Greenawalt remains incarcerated at the Multi-County Correctional Center in Marion.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion County grand jury indicts man for killing woman at campground