A Gibson man accused of killing his mother in 2009 pleaded guilty to murder on Monday.
William Cousins was 17 in January 2009, when he was charged with first degree murder in the death of his mother, 39-year-old Sarah Williams of Gibson.
After Williams was reported missing by family members, her body was found in some woods near Bennettsville, S.C., having been apparently killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Apart from Cousins living with her periodically, Williams lived alone.
Cousins has been imprisoned in Scotland County for three years while awaiting trial. During the course of the investigation, authorities say they discovered that a strained relationship had developed between Cousins and his mother.
“There was a history of rebelliousness on his part in the months leading up to the murder; he was becoming increasingly disrespectful and rebellious,” said Scotland County District Attorney Kristy Newton.
According to Newton, Cousins murdered his mother because she would not allow him to use her car to visit his girlfriend.
On Monday, he pleaded guilty to murder, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to seriously injure, and financial transaction card fraud, Newton said.
He received a sentence of 31 to 40 years in prison, the first few years of which he will likely spend in a youthful offender facility in North Carolina.
Post a Comment
