Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi on Friday presides over the trial of Scott Hickman in connection with a 30-year-old Washington County double homicide case that reopened in 2019. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

MARIETTA — Waterford resident Scott Hickman is currently on trial in connection with a Washington County double homicide that occurred in 1995 involving the death of Kimberly Fulton, 28, and her 17-month-old child Daniel.

The courtroom was packed during the fourth day of the trial Friday in Washington County Common Pleas Court, which focused on witness testimony and statements by crime investigation professionals.

According to court records, Hickman was arrested in 1998 for his connections to the murders but was released shortly after as a result of a lack of evidence.

He was later indicted in October 2021 on four counts of aggravated murder and two counts of murder for involvement in the homicides. It was determined that he was unable to stand trial in 2023 due to schizoaffective disorder where he was then admitted to Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare’s Timothy B. Moritz Unit in Columbus.

Prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office, the case continued after Hickman restored competency in June 2024. Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi is presiding over the trial.

Scott Hickman

The prosecution questioned the witnesses on an array of issues, which ranged from the photos and videos of the crime scene in 1995 to the evidence that was gathered over the course of the investigation.

According to court records, Fulton and her son were found deceased at opposite ends of their home in Waterford after a fire March 5, 1995.

Upon further investigation and a second autopsy conducted on the bodies by the Montgomery County Coroner, the bodies revealed a different story.

Despite the fire, most of Daniel’s face was preserved to reveal a bruise on his upper lip that aligned with his front teeth which suggested smothering.

The court records also revealed that there were traces of gasoline on the front of Kimberly’s t-shirt which suggested the fire was started by gasoline.

Kimberly Fulton and her son Daniel (Photos Provided)

Neither of the victims contained increased amounts of carbon monoxide in their lungs which isn’t consistent with an individual who has died from smoke inhalation, according to testimony. This further proved that they were deceased before the fire occurred since they didn’t inhale smoke, according to court reports.

There was soot located along Kimberly’s throat and lungs which suggested that she may have been breathing but unconscious during the fire.

Criminal investigation professionals also stated that there was no evidence of the victims making an attempt to escape the fire.

The case was reopened by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit in 2019 as a result of new evidence which revealed there were possibly other people involved in the double homicide.

Friday’s testimony concluded in the early afternoon and will continue with witness testimonies next week.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.