GA Radio: Trial Begins In Murder of Former Columbus DJ

Dave Rutherford

The trial for a man charged with the murder of a Columbus, GA radio DJ David Rutherford began today.

Police believe the suspect, Cody Mathis, dumped his body behind a church.

Mathis is charged with murder after police believe he beat and shot to death the 57-year-old Rutherford in June 2013.

The former WAGH Magic 101.3 FM radio personality turned taxi driver was found dead near a church.

Prior to working in Columbus, Rutherford worked at WFDR in Manchester, Georgia and also spent time at radio stations in Miami and Washington D.C. He was known on air by his stage name, Dave Ford.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, Rudy "The Deuce" Rutherford, who is in the Black Radio Hall of Fame.  He was the first African-American in the South to host a television show. It was called "Rock'n With The Deuce and it aired on WTVM in 1958.

Both Rutherford and his father coincidentally died at the same age: 57.

Authorities say the jewelry played a big role in placing Mathis near the scene of the crime and suspect robbery was the motive behind the murder.