Richard Lindgren, 59, appeared in Licking County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, where he changed his plea to guilty for the single charge of aggravated murder. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges against him, which included multiple counts of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence. Lindgren will be eligible to apply for parole after serving 21 years behind bars.
Details of the Fatal Shooting
The charges stem from an incident at Louie’s Corner House bar in Buckeye Lake on the evening of July 11, 2025.
The Victim: The victim was identified as 42-year-old Benjamin Hawk.
The Incident: According to Licking County Common Pleas Court documents, Lindgren entered the bar and found his ex-wife singing karaoke on the outdoor patio with Hawk. Lindgren approached Hawk from behind and fatally shot him in the back of the head with a small handgun.
Apprehension: Lindgren immediately fled the scene following the shooting. A nationwide warrant was issued, and he was arrested the following day in South Carolina, where he was awaiting extradition back to Licking County, Ohio.
Lindgren, who had previously pleaded not guilty to the original indictment, received credit for the 116 days he had spent in jail awaiting trial. The sentencing brings a conclusion to the high-profile case that shocked the quiet Buckeye Lake community earlier this year.