Last defendant in fire chief’s fatal stabbing gets 15 years

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — The last of three women charged in the stabbing death of the Branchville fire chief has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reports (http://bit.ly/19PlW9L ) that 26-year-old Carrie Brown was sentenced Thursday to the minimum recommended by prosecutors for her voluntary manslaughter charge.

Authorities say Alan Oakley’s wife and her lover conspired to kill the chief after he decided to end their marriage. His wife, Melody Oakley, and Ann Anderson were each sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Brown’s attorney says she was originally supposed to stab Oakley in December 2013, but couldn’t do it when she got to his house. Authorities say Anderson stabbed Oakley in the neck instead.

Brown’s lawyer asked for a five-year sentence because she was the first to confess.