Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrest in Recent Padgett Street Homicide Investigation

(Walhalla, SC)————————————–The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a recent homicide that occurred on Padgett Street, which is on the Utica Mill Hill, near Seneca.

27 year old Braxton Earl of Scott Circle in Pendleton was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 1:12pm Thursday on a charge of Murder. Earl was transported from the Anderson County Detention Center to the Oconee County Detention Center yesterday, where he was booked in and served with an arrest warrant.

At this time, Earl remains in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center after bond was denied yesterday. Earl will appear, at a later time, before a Circuit Court Judge in regards to his bond.

The investigation into the homicide began late in the evening of Tuesday, August 31st, after deputies responded to 14 Padgett Street in regards to initial reports of a disturbance. When deputies arrived on scene to begin an investigation, they observed an adult male, identified by the Oconee County Coroner’s Office as 62 year old Richard Dennis Keese of Pendleton, lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound. Deputies, as well as an officer from the Seneca Police Department and paramedics, attempted life saving measures on the victim, however, the victim died on scene.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, and according to the arrest warrant, Earl caused the death of Mr. Keese by shooting the victim about the body.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation. If anyone has any information in regards to the homicide at 14 Padgett Street on August 31st, you are asked to call the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office at 864-638-4111 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. You can also leave a tip via the Oconee County Crimestoppers official website at www.oconeesccrimestoppers.com.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our law enforcement partners with the Seneca Police Department for their assistance and help in our investigation.