Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrest in over Ten Year Old Unsolved Homicide Investigation

Coax Arnold Sanford, V

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing today an arrest in a homicide investigation that occurred over 10 years ago near Westminster.

Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Deputies assigned to the Warrants Unit placed 33 year old Coax Arnold Sanford, V, of Vine Road in Westminster, in custody today and transported him to the Oconee County Detention Center on charges of Murder and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime in the December 2015 shooting death of Jesse Eugene Mulkey.

Sanford, V was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 5:12pm today.  At this time, Sanford, V remains in jail pending an initial appearance before a Judge.

On Sunday evening, December 20^th, 2015 at around 9:52pm, Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to an address on Brock Road, near Westminster, and discovered the body of Mr. Mulkey in front of an address on Brock Road with a gunshot wound to the chest.  The Criminal Investigations Division, as it was known at that time, the Oconee County Coroner’s Office and Paramedics responded to the scene.  An autopsy was performed to assist with the investigation. 

The Coroner’s Office ruled the death as a homicide and evidence was sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for processing.  The Sheriff’s Office also requested assistance from the public through Crimestoppers for any tips and information regarding the shooting. 

In a February 27^th, 2017 news release, Investigators identified Sanford, V as not only being present at the scene but as the person who shot Mr. Mulkey.  Throughout the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office continued to make a determination if the shooting was justified or was intentional. 

The Sheriff’s Office previously reported that both Mr. Mulkey and Sanford, V had weapons on their person during the incident and that both were acquaintances of a female that lived at the Brock Road residence. 

Investigators with the Cold Case Unit of the Criminal Investigations Bureau continued to work on the case and obtained additional evidence to corroborate that the shooting was intentional and not in self-defense.  Investigators then consulted with 10^th Circuit Solicitor Micah Black, and based on those consultations, Solicitor Black agreed that probable cause existed to charge Sanford, V in the death of Mr. Mulkey. 

“The number one goal of any incident reported to a law enforcement agency is to investigate and follow the evidence to make a determination if there is probable cause to file charges and then hold those who have been charged accountable for their crimes in a court of law,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  “The Cold Case unit continues to investigate and follow-up on any leads in all of our unsolved crimes or investigations.” 

I am pleased that we were able to gather evidence that led to charges being filed against Sanford, V and to provide Mr. Mulkey’s family as much closure as possible in this long ordeal,” according to Sheriff Crenshaw.  “This arrest is proof that any case or investigation can be solved, regardless of the length of time.  I am also grateful for the assistance from Solicitor Black in the consultation’s that he and his office had with our Cold Case Investigators in this case.” 

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigations.

If you have any information on any investigation, including any current investigations being conducted by the Cold Case Unit, submit a tip anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-844-71-CRIME, online at 71crime.com or by downloading the free P3 app on your mobile device. 

If your tip leads to an arrest in any investigation, you could be eligible for a cash reward.