Union County man arrested for murder of SC woman in 1976, officials say

FARFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — A Union County man was arrested Thursday for the murder of a South Carolina woman in 1976, authorities said.

Officials with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said Charles Ugvine Coleman, 65, was charged with murder and rape.

In March 1976, Elizabeth Ann Howell Wilson, 45, went missing while working at the Eureka Plant of Spring Mills in Chester.

Authorities said her body and stolen vehicle was later found in Fairfield County near the intersection of Ashford Ferry Road and Dave Jenkins Road. They said she had been sexually assaulted, strangled and beaten.

According to SLED, they had been working to solve the case for years and through DNA, they were able to identify Coleman.

“Our Agents and forensics experts' work hard and are dedicated to bringing justice to those who commit crimes against our citizens,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “Whether the crime was recent or happened more than 40 years ago, we will not stop in trying to solve the case. I appreciate the teamwork showed by everyone in helping bring closure to the Wilson family.”

Coleman is being held at the Fairfield County Detention Center.

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