Sumter man charged with beating girlfriend

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — A 72-year-old Sumter man has been arrested and accused of beating his girlfriend to death.

Sumter County sheriff’s deputies say they were called to a home Tuesday evening and found the body of 54-year-old Joanne Smiley of Sumter.

Coroner Harvin Bullock says Smiley was beaten with a baseball bat.

Willie Pressley was arrested and charged with killing the woman.

He’s being held in the Sumter-Lee regional jail. It was not clear if he has an attorney.