Man accused of breaking into home after 2 Sumter County women were found dead

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - A man is now facing charges after authorities said he broke into a home where two Sumter County women were found dead last month.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said 49-year-old Herbert McDowell, of Lake City, was arrested earlier this month and charged with a count of first-degree burglary.

According to the sheriff’s office, McDowell allegedly broke into a home on Pudding Swamp Road on Sept. 8 - days after it was the scene of a double homicide. McDowell is also accused of stealing several items from the home.

The two women killed were later identified as Melony Johnson and her aunt, Lola Hurt.

The suspect, Howard “Doug” Coker, Jr., was later arrested and charged in both deaths. Coker is being held at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

WIS spoke with a family member of Johnson and Hurt after Coker’s arrest, saying he was involved in domestic disputes with one of the women.

McDowell, meanwhile, was denied bond and also booked at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

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