Found Deceased NC - Day Williamson, 71, Franklin, 2 August 2014

An autopsy is scheduled Tuesday to identify a woman and her cause of death after she was found at a fire scene over the weekend, Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland said. Deputies are investigating the incident as a suspicious death, treating it as a “worst-case scenario,” Holland said Monday.

The fire was reported about 3 p.m. Saturday at 528 Middle Burningtown Road. Initially, it was believed no one was home because the homeowner’s SUV was seen leaving the residence about 11:45 a.m., Holland said.

Firefighters later found the charred remains of a woman. The vehicle of the homeowner, 71-year-old Day Williamson, was located about 4:20 a.m. Sunday in another area of the county, Holland said. Williamson is considered missing, Holland said.

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Charles Cochran was captured at a house at 398 Green Street in Franklin, late Monday night. But the Macon County Sheriff says he tried to run and had to be tackled by SWAT officers...

Due to recent information, including talking to a witness, Sheriff Holland suspects Cochran was involved in a shooting on West Palmer Street Saturday night, not far from Green Street. "During this conversation, Cochran admitted that he was running from police. That he had shot and possibly killed an individual," he says.

Franklin police say a bullet only grazed the shooting victim. But investigators continue questioning Cochran. And, the sheriff says Cochran had two guns with possible ties to the scene of a fatal house fire Saturday afternoon in the Burningtown community.

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Cochran gets life for murder

Charles Andrew Cochran will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole following a plea agreement in Macon County Superior Court on Monday afternoon.

Cochran pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 71-year old Day Williamson at her Burningtown home on Aug. 2, 2014.

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