CASSATT, SC (WIS) - A Kershaw County man will be charged with murder after admitting to killing his roommate and then cutting him up and putting his body parts into trash bags after an argument over money, according to Sheriff Jim Matthews.
Deputies received a call early Monday morning about a body found in a shed in the Shepard Acres manufactured home community. According to Matthews, when they got to the home at 1288 Dogwood Lane they found several trash bags containing body parts inside a shed on the property.
Investigators say the suspect, Raleigh Furman, Jr., 46, confessed to killing Larry Lee Thomas, Jr., 30, by hitting him over the head with a pipe wrench on Friday because he wasn't paying his share of the bills.
Over the weekend, Furman dismembered and disposed of the victim's body and then checked himself into an area hospital complaining of chest pains, Matthews said.
According to the sheriff, it was from the hospital that Furman initially contacted a relative and told
them what he had done, which resulted in a 911 call to authorities on Monday.
According
to Furman, he and Thomas had been living together for a short time and got into
an argument over money and drugs. Furman admitted to being high on crack
cocaine when he killed Thomas late on Friday, Matthews said.
On Saturday, Furman went to work, but returned to his home during the day to
check on Thomas' body to see if it had been discovered, according to the sheriff. Furman returned to work and then
on the way home after work, he purchased some tools he used to dismember and
decapitate Thomas, Matthews said.
Furman
has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1983, much of it in New York state. He has been arrested on second degree murder charges, drug violations, assault, robbery, and various weapons charges.
"Once
again substance abuse has played a major role in a horrific crime," said Matthews. "Normal, rational people do abnormal,
irrational things when they are high on alcohol or drugs. What makes this
worse, based on Furman's criminal history, is that Furman was already not
normal."
The
Kershaw County Sheriff's Office, SLED and the Kershaw County Coroner's Office
are continuing to investigate this crime. Deputies have obtained an arrest warrant for Furman, who will be charged with one count
of murder. His bond hearing will be held during the next term of General
Sessions Court in Kershaw County.
Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.
(Source: Tim Pulliam)
Raleigh Furman, Jr. (Source: Kershaw County Sheriff's Office)
