OC Sheriff’s Office looking for answers in Westminster Homicide

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is looking for answers after a Westminster woman was discovered dead inside her home and the coroner ruled her death a homicide. Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt says investigators are asking the public for help solving this crime. “At approximately 4:36pm on Nov. 26, 2017, a call was made to Oconee County 911 reporting that a non-responsive female had been found inside a home on Creekwood Lane in Westminster. When personnel from Oconee County EMS, the Oconee County Coroner’s Office and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the residence they discovered a female dead inside the home. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis positively identified the decedent as 74-year-old Joann G. McCarthy of Westminster. The coroner conducted a more extensive examination of the body and immediately notified investigators at the Sheriff’s Office that an injury not found during the preliminary exam had been discovered. Based on the coroner’s findings further testing as well as an autopsy was conducted at which time it was determined that Ms. McCarthy had died from a single gunshot wound and her manner of death was determined to be homicide.” The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation and asks that anyone who may have information regarding Ms. McCarthy’s death to contact the sheriff’s office at 864-638-4111 or contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.