Investigation continues into Westminster Area Homicide

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the murder of a Westminster area resident last month, explains Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt. “The Sheriff’s Office has been following up on leads and evidence obtained in the course of the investigation. Our investigators believe, however, that there is additional evidence and information that can give us the final pieces of the puzzle we need to solve this crime and bring whoever was involved to accountability for their actions. As previously mentioned in a press release issued from the Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 30, a call was made to Oconee County 911 at approximately 4:36pm on Nov. 26, 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, identified by Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis, as 74-year-old Joann G. McCarthy. Coroner Addis conducted a more extensive examination of the body on Nov. 27, and immediately notified investigators at the Oconee County 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 on Nov. 29, 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. As a result of the evidence obtained so far in the investigation, we have determined that Ms. McCarthy died sometime during the early morning hours of Sunday morning, Nov. 26. Our investigators are asking for anyone who may have information they want to share or who may have been traveling on or in the area of Creekwood Lane during the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 26, to contact us if they saw anything suspicious. Even if they believe that the information they have is not important or insignificant, it may be the final piece of evidence we need to solve this crime.” If you have any information, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. You don’t have to give your name when you call Crimestoppers and all information given is confidential. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.