STATENVILLE —
Based on a preliminary autopsy report, the 28-year-old woman killed on Saturday in Echols County was shot to death, not stabbed as authorities initially reported.
Her 61-year-old boyfriend is charged in the case.
Late Wednesday, Echols County Coroner Allen Leonard reported that Martha Felton, 28, had been shot multiple times. Authorities originally believed she had been stabbed multiple times.
“We were all baffled when the results came in,” he said. “We all thought the victim was stabbed to death.”
Just before midnight Saturday, in the 1400 block of Bethel Church Road, the Echols County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Echols County Coroner Allen Leonard responded to the residence of Lynnwood Reginald Mathis.
Once inside the residence, officials found the nude body of Martha Felton wrapped in a blanket on the floor in the hallway, Sheriff Randy Courson said earlier this week.
“The woman appeared to have been stabbed,” Courson initially said. “A deputy noticed puncture wounds to her body.”
The coroner confirmed that the woman died from multiple stab wounds to the torso. The body was sent to the State Crime Lab in Macon for an autopsy.
Mathis is charged with murder.
Courson said Mathis walked into the sheriff’s office at approximately 11:15 p.m. and told the officers on duty that he needed to see the sheriff. Courson was not in the office at the time but said that, according to his deputies, Mathis kept repeating, “She’s dead.” Deputies drove the suspect to his residence and discovered Felton’s body.
“We got a search warrant,” Courson said, “and from the evidence collected at the scene, we were able to make the arrest.”
Courson also said Mathis and Felton were in a relationship, and the sheriff was familiar with them as they had previous domestic issues requiring the sheriff’s office’s involvement.
However, the sheriff was unaware of what events may have led to Saturday night’s incident.
Local News
Autopsy: Woman shot, not stabbed
- Local News
-
-
Tropical storm brings much needed rain to drought-stricken region
Lowndes County is in for a soaking today as Tropical Storm Beryl passes through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Wild Adventures unveils revamped animal show
A Chilean Rose tarantula, an albino Burmese python and American alligators headline Wild Adventures’ revamped “Creature Feature Extreme” show, as the exhibit kicked off its summer schedule last week in a newly constructed amphitheater.
Previously titled “Creature Feature,” the new variant of the show features some of the most popular animals from the previous exhibit. -
Pausing to honor those who gave all
Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery Monday to honor the fallen veterans of our country’s past and current wars.
-
Fallen hero memorialized
Amid cries of jubilation from the mother of a fallen local veteran, a new memorial was unveiled Saturday afternoon, at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Inner Perimeter, in honor of the late Petty Officer First Class Joseph Adam McSween.
-
VHS Class of 2012 graduates
Valdosta High School’s Class of 2012 gathered Friday night at the Valdosta State University PE Complex to celebrate the graduation of roughly 350 seniors.
-
Qualifying ends
Citizens engaged in their local political landscape will have plenty of options this July and November as dozens of candidates qualified on Friday.
-
Resident escapes from blaze
A citizen escaped an aggressive fire with only minor cuts and bruises Friday afternoon, as wind amplified the flames from the blaze that started inside of his St. Augustine Road residence.
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
- More Local News Headlines
-
