Investigators Release Sketch of Individual Resembling Person of Interest in the Marcus Lee Homicide Investigation

(Walhalla, SC)---------------------------------Investigators assigned to the Unsolved Case Unit of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office are releasing a sketch today of an individual who resembles a person of interest they are seeking to identify in the ongoing Marcus Lee homicide investigation.

The sketch is of an individual who resembles a person that was reportedly seen on the day of the murder, which is December 8^th, 1986.  Mr. Lee’s body was discovered the morning of December 9^th, 1986 inside of his residence, which is in the Clearmont Community, near the intersection of Richland Road and N. Seed Farm Road. 

Investigators are not sure how old the sketch is, or if it has been released previously.  Investigators have been and are continuing to ask for any information or tips from the public regarding the Marcus Lee homicide. 

According to a previous news release, Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw said that Mr. Lee was well-known in the community and owned and operated a lawn mower/motorcycle repair shop beside his home.  Mr. Lee was 56 years old when he died.  Anonymous awards have been offered previously for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of anyone who was involved in Mr. Lee’s death. 

If you have any information concerning the December 8^th, 1986 murder of Marcus Lee, or the identity of the individual who resembles the person of interest in the sketch, you are asked to submit a tip to Crimestoppers, where you don’t have to give your name, by calling 1-844-71-CRIME.  Tips can also be submitted online at 71crime.com or by downloading the free P3 app on your mobile device. 

The Unsolved Case and Missing Person’s Unit was created by Sheriff Crenshaw, with Captain Jimmy Dixon and Investigators Sgt. Barry Owens heading up the Unit.  The Unit was created in order to investigate missing person’s cases and to put a fresh set of eyes on the unsolved cases.  

So far this year, two unsolved cases have been closed.  On February 23^rd, the Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 33 year old Coax Arnold Sanford, V on charges of Murder and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime in the December 20^th, 2015 shooting death of Jesse Eugene Mulkey.

On March 11^th of this year, the Sheriff’s Office, after consultations with the 10^th Circuit Solicitors Office, announced that that 2002 homicide investigation into the death of Bruce Gaines Marett had been closed due to death by offender of the person responsible for Mr. Marett’s death, James Forest Ritchie.