Man sentenced to 35 years in Aiken woman’s death

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) — A 31-year-old Aiken man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for strangling his high school sweetheart.

The Aiken Standard reports (http://bit.ly/GC9yae ) that James Conway Gray was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to murder in the death of Helen Markel Magee.

Gray said he strangled the 31-year-old woman on the lawn of her Aiken home last July. Gray said the two had argued but that he was intoxicated and doesn’t remember much about Magee’s death.

Two young children witnessed the fight. One of them called 911, saying their mother was hurt.

Deputies found Magee unresponsive. Authorities picked up Gray nearby, and he told them he killed Magee.

Gray’s attorney said his client and Magee had been high school sweethearts and married other people but were rekindling their relationship.

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Information from: Aiken Standard, http://www.aikenstandard.com