Kingstree, South Carolina: Elderly Woman Shoots And Kills Her Son During Argument
A Kingstree, South Carolina, shooting has stunned a community. Deputies with the Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Phyllis E. Owens, 65, was arrested and charged with the murder of her 30-year-old son, George Goethe Mixon III. According to reports, the elderly woman shot and killed her son during a heated argument on Saturday evening.
Although the nature of the argument is unclear, authorities confirmed George was shot in the chest with a 20-gauge shotgun. The Epoch Times reports paramedics were called to the scene. However, Mixon died on the way to the hospital.
Authorities confirmed Phyllis was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony crime. She is currently being held at the Williamsburg County Detention Center without bond.
The Kingstree, South Carolina, shooting is currently trending on Facebook and other social media sites. Several users have suggested George Goethe Mixon III had a history of drug abuse and violent outbursts. Unfortunately, Phyllis may have been a victim herself.
Deputies: Kingstree woman, 65, kills own son with shotgun during argument: https://t.co/Ki80Qvukhh #chsnews pic.twitter.com/N5kvJNahTv
— ABC News 4 (@ABCNews4) February 1, 2016
Macy Alexandra Welch, who identified herself as George’s former fiancée, discussed the tragedy, and her observations about the family, in a Facebook post.
“He was on drugs years ago… he would beat the living hell outta her. Yet, she still stood by him [until] he got clean. She was there every step of the way. I was engaged to this pyscho. I left because we got into an argument and he pulled a gun on me 4 years ago… He was mentally unstable, she knew that. [Phyllis] has stage 4 cancer and doesn’t need to be in prison for defending herself.”
Crystal McCutcheon Freeman, who identifies herself as a family member, also suggested George may have suffered from mental illness. In a Facebook post, Freeman said Phyllis “gave up her life her marriage her job to take care of her grown but also mentally ill son.”
Although Freeman did not provide specific details, she also suggested the shooting may have been accidental.
At this time, it is unclear what transpired on Saturday evening and exactly how and why the elderly woman shot and killed her own son. However, the tragedy is resounding through the family and the rest of the community.
The Kingstree, South Carolina, shooting is specifically shocking, as the accused killer is 65 years old. Although it is rare, elderly women do commit heinous crimes.
In July 2015, Tamara Samsonova, 68, was arrested and charged with murder after she was observed disposing of a body in St. Petersburg, Russia. As reported by Daily Mail, authorities later identified the victim as 79-year-old Valentina Ulanova.
Amid her arrest, authorities discovered a diary detailing at least 10 murders — which occurred over a period of 20 years.
Authorities said the diary read like a confessional, in which Samsonova detailed how she killed, dismembered, ate, and disposed of numerous people — including her former husband.
“Tamara Samsonova. 68 años. Acusada de matar y devorar a 13 ancianos.”
Ojalá mi biografía en Meetic. pic.twitter.com/T4B7hkoDXf
— Álex Portero (@VelvetMolotov) January 21, 2016
In December 2015, a 73-year-old woman was arrested and charged in the shooting death of her husband.
CBS News reports Gwendolyn Brown Bailey shot William Bailey in the chest a total of four times on Christmas Day. Although three of the Bailey’s grandchildren were present inside the home, they did not witness the shooting.
Although he survived the initial shooting, William later died at the hospital. Gwendolyn was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
It is unclear what drove the elderly woman to shoot and kill her husband on Christmas Day. However, authorities suggested the couple had a history of “continuous mental issues and infidelities.”
The details surrounding the Kingstree, South Carolina, shooting are still unclear, as authorities have not made an official statement. Unfortunately, the family is now coping with the death of one loved one and the incarceration of another.
[Mugshot image via Kings Tree News]
