OC Sheriff’s Office arrests Westminster Man for Murder

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Westminster man on multiple charges, including murder. Late Wednesday afternoon, May 2, 40-year-old Lee Mikeal Cawthon of Welcome Church Road came to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and during an interview with investigators, admitted to killing his wife. Investigators have discovered a body on the property at the Welcome Church Road address with the assistance of Cawthon and the body has been recovered. The body recovered is presumed to be that of 33-year-old Rebecca A. Murray Cawthon. The cause and manner of death will hopefully be determined pending an autopsy. Cawthon was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center on warrants charging him with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and domestic violence. Cawthon has also been charged with manufacturing marijuana as a result of the investigation. Back on April 18, a deputy responded to the home of Rebecca A. Murray Cawthon in reference to a welfare check. The deputy spoke with a family member who had tried to reach Rebecca by phone but had not been able to reach her and had come to the residence to make contact with her but had been unsuccessful. The family member had not heard from Rebecca before making contact with law enforcement. Rebecca’s information was entered into the National Crimes Information Center database and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office had been following up on leads in the case. The Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on April 24, seeking the public’s help regarding the investigation. “Due to the fact that this investigation remains active and ongoing, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office will not be releasing any further information at this time,” according to Captain Greg Reed of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office.