Cold case murder of Ohio State student sees arrest 25 years later

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - After 25 years, an arrest has been made in connection with the murder of Ohio State student Charles Ballard, who was shot and partially burned in 2000. Brian Swanson, 48, has been charged with murder and aggravated murder, according to court records. Ballard, then 22, was found dead in his East 17th Avenue apartment on February 8, 2000.

Ballard's body was discovered in the basement, where he had been shot three times—once in the head, chest, and abdomen. Reports indicate that he was found on top of a gun and partially burned, with significant burns on the lower half of his body and less severe damage to his torso and clothing. The open basement door showed signs of burning, but investigators believe there was no struggle, leaving the cause of the fire unclear.

Detectives uncovered a dispute between Ballard and an employee at a nearby BP gas station, where the employee allegedly followed Ballard home on one occasion. Approximately 90 minutes after Ballard's death, the employee was seen attempting to use Ballard's ATM card while wearing a ski mask, raising suspicions among police.

Though the employee became the main suspect in the investigation, the evidence against him remained circumstantial, and he was never charged at that time. The ATM card belonged to Ballard's girlfriend, who stated she had never possessed it, adding further intrigue to the case.

On Thursday, Swanson, a resident of Cincinnati, was taken into custody, with both murder charges filed in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, which include a three-year specification for firearm use. The long-standing mystery surrounding Ballard's death may finally be resolved as the legal process unfolds.