Man sentenced in death of common law wife

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C.(WOLO)– Officials with the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office say a Lexington County man will spend decades in prison for the murder of his common law wife.

According to officials, Scott Horton was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder of Patricia Smerdell.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department says on June 20, 2020, Horton called 911 reporting Smerdell was not breathing and was unresponsive on the floor.

When deputies arrived they say Smerdell had been dead for several hours.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be homicide.

Horton is now in the custody of the SC Department of Corrections.