Two Murder-Suicides Reported in Augusta and Aiken within 24 Hours
Two murder-suicides since Sunday night are under investigation in Augusta and Aiken. In both cases, the man allegedly shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself.
In Richmond County, a man and his wife are dead as a result of a murder-suicide last night at their home.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to the home in the 1200 block of Holden Drive around 9 pm.
Once inside, they found the body of 41-year-old Rebecca Williams. Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen said she died from at least one gunshot wound.
Authorities also found the body of her husband, 43-year-old Michael Williams in the home. Bowen said he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Autopsies are scheduled.
Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office say no other information is being released yet.
Murder-Suicide Reported Today in Aiken
Just before 11 am today, Aiken Public Safety Officers responded to a report of shots fired at Murphy’s Express in the 3700 block of Richland Avenue West, near Walmart.
Officers found two people with gunshot wounds in what turned out to be the second murder-suicide in the area within 14 hours.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, the other was taken to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.
A witness told officers a man fired shots at a female while the two were arguing, then turned the gun on himself. 55-year-old George Britt died at the scene. His wife, 43-year-old Tiffany Britt, died a short time later at Aiken Regional Medical Centers.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has been called to investigate.
No Bond for Woman Accused in Deadly Crash in Saluda County Last Week
A Saluda High School teacher was killed in a two-vehicle wreck last week in Irmo and the woman accused of causing the accident will remain in jail for the time being.
Authorities say 34-year-old Brooke Wingate was struck from behind by a vehicle in Irmo last Thursday. Wingate was the band director and Girl’s Soccer Coach at Saluda High School. She died at an area hospital shortly after the crash.
The accident was reported in the 1300 block of Lake Murray Boulevard in Irmo.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Wingate’s vehicle was rear-ended by 31-year-old Chelsie Pittman. She was charged with felony Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Death; Habitual Offender; Causing Death when License has been Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked; and Driving under Suspension, third or subsequent offense.
A judge denied Pittman bond during a court appearance in Columbia on Saturday, due to her extensive driving record which was reported to be more than nine pages long. The judge said Pittman was just in court two weeks ago on a habitual traffic offender charge. She’s also been caught driving with a suspended license multiple times, according to court documents.
