The Scioto County Prosecutor's Office has announced two life sentences have been handed out to two people charged in two separate murder cases.

According to County Prosecutor Mark Kuhn, Ray Scott Heid pleaded guilty on Friday, to charges of murder, along with a firearms specification, and admitted to probation violations.

In December, Heid, 25, whose last known addresses were in Waverly and Bainbridge, was sought by law enforcement in connection to the shooting death of Kevin Swords, 37, in his home at 2100 D Stoney Run Road, West Portsmouth.

Kuhn said Heid shot Swords, his uncle, over a mutual lover.

"The two, Heid and Swords, have known each other for some time. What we have here is an old boyfriend, new boyfriend situation," said Capt. David Hall of Scioto County Sheriff's Department, following the incident. "Swords was the new boyfriend, and Heid was the old boyfriend."

Heid was sentenced by Judge Howard Harcha, to a life sentence with parole eligibility in 21 years.

Also in Harcha's courtroom, Robin Riggs, 19, of 38 Valley St. in Lucasville, pleaded guilty on Monday, to aggravated murder stemming from the beating death of Ronald Cox, 67, of 631 Little Egypt Road, in Rubyville, in September.

Kuhn said robbery appeared to be the motive for the murder, and said Riggs and Cox knew each other, and Riggs had visited the victim before.

Initial reports suggested Cox invited Riggs into his house on the night before the murder, and an altercation soon started just after midnight, reporting Riggs had beaten Cox to death with a Maglite flashlight. On Tuesday, Kuhn said Cox was beaten to death with a pry bar.

"There have been some other suspects listed. However, those individuals have not been charged at this time. She was thought to be the primary individual involved," he said.

Riggs was sentenced on Monday to life in prison, eligible for parole in 20 years. Kuhn praised the coordinated efforts of local law enforcement, prosecutors and the Scioto County Court.

"Anytime you have a guilty plea by a murder suspect, we're pretty happy about that here in the prosecutor's office," he said.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.