Attempted murder charges have been upgraded to first-degree murder in the November assault of a Silver Creek man.

Jadarrius C. Smith, 21, of Monticello, was arrested Nov. 19, 2021, and charged with the attempted murder of Benny Dean Rutland, 62, of Silver Creek. While at Smith’s grandfather’s home, Smith had assaulted Rutland with a baseball bat, according to Lawrence County Sheriff Ryan Everett.

Rutland succumbed to his injuries at the University of Mississippi Medical Center during the first week of March. After a preliminary autopsy report was released, charges were upgraded.