By JUSTIN STORY

justin.story@bgdailynews.com

A Butler County man is in jail awaiting a court date after being arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting his son.

Carl Martin, 81, of Rochester, was arrested Oct. 24 on a charge of murder.

Martin is accused of causing the death of his son, Jason Martin, 49, of Morgantown.

Carl Martin is in Butler County Jail under a $250,000 cash bond and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday in Butler District Court, where he is due to be arraigned.

Jason Martin’s death was investigated by the Morgantown Police Department.

According to published reports, Carl Martin told police Oct. 24 that his son asked him to buy alcohol for him, and that when he returned to the residence, Jason Martin was walking in the yard and said he had been shot.

Carl Martin reportedly told police that he took his son to Butler County Family Care, but the office was closed, so he then went to Smith Funeral Home and asked someone there to call for an ambulance.

Police questioned Carl Martin’s account, and then discovered evidence later that day that resulted in his arrest, according to reports.

Attorney Blake Beliles said he has been retained to represent Martin, and will appear via Zoom for Friday’s arraignment, at which point a preliminary hearing will be scheduled.

Beliles said he did not know what evidence had been gathered against his client, but he has met briefly with Martin ahead of the arraignment.