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  No suspect named in Sunday’s murder web posted June 24, 2008  TRENTON – Day two of
the investigation
into Sunday’s murder of 60-year-old Raymond Merriweather is making
progress Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Randy Doran said Monday. Evidence
was still being collected at the home at 166 Courtney Road throughout
the day and Edgefield County Coroner Thurmond Burnett said the cause of
death was, “a gunshot wound to the head,” adding that Mr. Merriweather
suffered “contusions and lacerations to the facial area.” Inv. Doran
said they were still searching for the murder weapon, “we recovered one
gun but it’s not the murder weapon," adding that there is one gun
missing from
the house and, "that’s the one we’re trying to locate.” Inv. Doran and others were on the scene searching the home and the surrounding area for the gun and collecting other evidence from inside the home. The murder weapon has not been recovered as of this report. Evidence collected by SLED on Sunday is in the process of being processed and the results of lab and other tests are expected within the next four to ten days. Inv. Doran said, “We’re not naming anyone as a suspect at this time,” adding that the case is currently still in the initial stages of the investigation and they are following the evidence as it is processed. When enough evidence is collected to obtain a warrant a suspect will be named, he said. Mr. Merriweather’s son, Phillip Anthony Merriweather, 30, was taken into custody during the early stages of the investigation which has prompted speculation that he is a suspect in the case. Inv. Doran said that the reason for his arrest stemmed from an argument that happened across the street as family members’ tempers flared. Reports from the scene say when the son refused to calm down he was informed he was under arrest for disorderly conduct. Before he could be taken into custody Mr. Merriweather is said to have taken a “swing” at a family member and hit another individual. An assault charge is said to be pending in the matter, which is unrelated to the murder investigation. Edgefield County Coroner Burnett said that the body was found at approximately 3 pm Sunday afternoon when the wife retuned to the family home after attending church. “He’d been dead for about an hour by then,” Mr. Burnett said. The wife left for church around 11 am and returned shortly after 3 pm. The initial approximate time of death occurred, “somewhere between 12 and 2 pm,” Mr. Burnett said stating that was just a “guess” at this time and nothing official could be released until the final report from the autopsy is received which should be available next week. Burnett said that it was obvious an altercation ensued prior to the murder. Asked if Mr. Merriweather was shot once or twice Mr. Burnett said he could not be certain until the final autopsy reports were received, “right now all I have is the cause of death, a gunshot wound to the head.” No other details were released in the case. Inv. Doran said he hoped they would be able to name a suspect and file formal charges as early as the end of the week but added that it could be next week before all the needed evidence could be processed. ©
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