Orangeburg man beaten to death with asphalt chunk

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — Investigators say a 38-year-old man has been charged with murder after he beat a 75-year-old man to death with a chunk of asphalt during a robbery at the victim’s Orangeburg County home.

Deputies said in a news release that Willie Miller became a suspect shorty after a friend looked through a window Monday and saw Clifford Herring motionless on the floor.

Authorities say Herring was already dead, having been badly beaten with the piece of asphalt. Neighbors had seen Miller entering Herring’s home the day before.

Warrants say Miller stole Herring’s cellphone, wallet and pistol.

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reports (http://bit.ly/11yimgi ) that Miller was given an application for a public defender when he appeared in court Wednesday. He did not talk about his case.

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Information from: The Times & Democrat, http://www.timesanddemocrat.com