SC - Elizabeth Ann Howell Wilson, 45, raped and murdered, Chester, Mar 1974 *arrest in 2020*
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musicaljoke
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COLUMBIA, SC (WSPA) – The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced Thursday the arrest of an Upstate man on charges related to the 1976 murder of a Chester, SC woman.
According to a SLED news release, Charles Ugvine Coleman, 65, was charged with murder and rape in connection to Elizabeth Ann Howell Wilson’s murder.
In March of 1976, Wilson, 45, went missing during her shift while working as a spinner at the Eureka Plant of Spring Mills in Chester.
Wilson’s body and stolen vehicle were later found in Fairfield County near the intersection of Ashford Ferry Road and Dave Jenkins Road in Blair.
According to the release, Wilson had been sexually assaulted, strangled and beaten.
Union Co. man charged in 1976 murder of SC woman
Cold Case Cracked...arrest made in 1976 Chester murder | OnlineChester.com
"According to a SLED spokesman, Coleman was arrested on a more recent charge and his DNA was uploaded into the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) national DNA database maintained by the FBI and the DNA came back with a match with evidence from this crime from 1976.
According to his arrest record, Coleman was arrested in April of 2020 by the Union County Sheriff's Office and charged with pointing and presenting a firearm and use of a firearm under the influence. That was only the most recent arrest on Coleman’s record, however. The News & Reporter obtained a full SLED background check which details incidents dating back 45. In 1975, Coleman was arrested by the Chester County Sheriff’s Office on charges of driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was assessed a fine of $150. On September 24, 1976 (just six months after the murder of Wilson), he was charged with driving under suspension third offense and operating a motor vehicle while uninsured. He was convicted on both counts and was fined a total of $200. Charges of public drunk and disorderly conduct followed, but in 1977 he was charged with assault and battery with intent to kill by the City of Chester Police Department. Records indicate he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but he was arrested again just four years later for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. There is no indication he went to trial on those charges. In the years that followed he was charged with being drunk and disorderly on multiple occasions, resisting arrest, DUI, public drunk, multiple counts of public multiple instances of public disorderly conduct and shoplifting."
"According to a SLED spokesman, Coleman was arrested on a more recent charge and his DNA was uploaded into the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) national DNA database maintained by the FBI and the DNA came back with a match with evidence from this crime from 1976.
According to his arrest record, Coleman was arrested in April of 2020 by the Union County Sheriff's Office and charged with pointing and presenting a firearm and use of a firearm under the influence. That was only the most recent arrest on Coleman’s record, however. The News & Reporter obtained a full SLED background check which details incidents dating back 45. In 1975, Coleman was arrested by the Chester County Sheriff’s Office on charges of driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was assessed a fine of $150. On September 24, 1976 (just six months after the murder of Wilson), he was charged with driving under suspension third offense and operating a motor vehicle while uninsured. He was convicted on both counts and was fined a total of $200. Charges of public drunk and disorderly conduct followed, but in 1977 he was charged with assault and battery with intent to kill by the City of Chester Police Department. Records indicate he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but he was arrested again just four years later for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. There is no indication he went to trial on those charges. In the years that followed he was charged with being drunk and disorderly on multiple occasions, resisting arrest, DUI, public drunk, multiple counts of public multiple instances of public disorderly conduct and shoplifting."
musicaljoke
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From your link, "He said a recent forensics breakthrough identified Coleman, through DNA, as a suspect in the crime. Coleman was in his 20s at the time of the crime."
It's been interesting seeing the criminal histories of identified cold case perpetrators. Some, like Joseph DeAngelo evidently had no felony convictions and no contact with law enforcement following termination by his police department after being caught shoplifting in 1977 . Others have long criminal records, but stopped violating the law as they reached middle or old age. Meanwhile Mr. Coleman seems to have never stopped being involved with the police: "According to his arrest record, Coleman was arrested in April of 2020 by the Union County Sheriff's Office and charged with pointing and presenting a firearm and use of a firearm under the influence. That was only the most recent arrest on Coleman’s record, however."
CastlesBurning
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Man Sentenced to Life in a 1976 Cold Case - CN2 News
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (CN2 News) – Charles Coleman, the man accused of raping & killing a woman in Chester back in 1976, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder.
A judge in Fairfield County sentenced Coleman to life with a chance at parole in 10 years after he pleaded guilty to murder under the Alford Plea. Officials say the reason for the chance at parole is because under the law in 1976 a life sentence was eligible for parole after 10 years.
The rape charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement according to officials with the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
According to investigators Elizabeth Ann Howell Wilson, was 45 years old when she went missing while working at the Eureka Plant in Chester.
Authorities say Wilson was taken 20 miles from the plant and found sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled in a rural area in Fairfield County.
After 44 years, in October 2020 Coleman was arrested and charged with the crimes. Authorities say thanks to a recent forensic breakthrough with DNA they were able to link Coleman to the crime.
Leaders say Coleman was arrested on a recent charge in 2020, that’s when SLED developed a DNA profile from evidence, leading them to identify him as the suspect in Wilson’s death.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor Riley Maxwell with the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and Assistant Solicitor, Julie Hall in Fairfield County. Special Agent Haley Nelson with SLED was also involved in the case.
Deputy Solicitor Maxwell says he is happy the family of Wilson got some closure after such a long time and is satisfied with the plea.
Family members of Wilson were in the courtroom today in Fairfield County.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (CN2 News) – Charles Coleman, the man accused of raping & killing a woman in Chester back in 1976, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder.
A judge in Fairfield County sentenced Coleman to life with a chance at parole in 10 years after he pleaded guilty to murder under the Alford Plea. Officials say the reason for the chance at parole is because under the law in 1976 a life sentence was eligible for parole after 10 years.
The rape charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement according to officials with the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
According to investigators Elizabeth Ann Howell Wilson, was 45 years old when she went missing while working at the Eureka Plant in Chester.
Authorities say Wilson was taken 20 miles from the plant and found sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled in a rural area in Fairfield County.
After 44 years, in October 2020 Coleman was arrested and charged with the crimes. Authorities say thanks to a recent forensic breakthrough with DNA they were able to link Coleman to the crime.
Leaders say Coleman was arrested on a recent charge in 2020, that’s when SLED developed a DNA profile from evidence, leading them to identify him as the suspect in Wilson’s death.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor Riley Maxwell with the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and Assistant Solicitor, Julie Hall in Fairfield County. Special Agent Haley Nelson with SLED was also involved in the case.
Deputy Solicitor Maxwell says he is happy the family of Wilson got some closure after such a long time and is satisfied with the plea.
Family members of Wilson were in the courtroom today in Fairfield County.