Scott M. Horton arrived home from work in late June 2020 to find his common-law wife dead on the floor of their Lexington, South Carolina residence. Rather than call authorities immediately, the 59-year-old placed a blanket over 56-year-old Patricia Smerdell and spent the night beside her body before dialing 911 the following morning.
Background
The attack occurred June 19, 2020, at the couple's home on Wynnsum Trail in Lexington, a community roughly 15 miles west of Columbia. When Horton made the 911 call that Saturday morning, he told dispatchers his wife was on the floor and not moving or breathing. First responders arriving at the scene noted Smerdell had been deceased for several hours with numerous bruises across her face and body.
Initially, Horton told Lexington County Sheriff's deputies he had arrived home from work to find his wife unresponsive on the floor. "He stated that he observed bruising on her face, placed a blanket over her, and left her in the floor overnight," according to a press release from the sheriff's office. Four days later, however, his narrative shifted with inconsistent statements about when he first discovered Smerdell injured.
The couple had a documented history of animosity. Law enforcement visited their Wynnsum Trail residence during disputes in 2017 and 2018, authorities said. A neighbor testified at trial to hearing frequent arguments between the pair.
The Charges
In late June, a Lexington County jury convicted Horton on one count of murder in Smerdell's beating death. An autopsy conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina by forensic pathologist Dr. Angelina Phillips documented over 30 separate injuries to the victim, including multiple patterned injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.
"The pathologist determined that the numerous injuries were inconsistent with a fall," the sheriff's office stated. The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the head; the manner of death was homicide. Injuries were noted on Smerdell's head, face, ear, chin, torso, shoulder, hip, and lower back.
Prosecutors established that Horton and Smerdell were the only two occupants of the Wynnsum Trail residence on the night in question with no signs of burglary or forced entry.
Key Takeaways
- Scott M. Horton sentenced to 45 years in prison by Circuit Court Judge Debra R. McCaslin; not eligible for parole
- Victim Patricia Smerdell, 56, died from blunt force trauma to the head on June 19, 2020
- Autopsy documented more than 30 separate injuries inconsistent with a fall
- Horton spent overnight beside his dead wife before calling 911 the following morning
- Couple had prior history of domestic disputes with police involvement in 2017 and 2018
What's Next
Horton is now serving his sentence at a South Carolina Department of Corrections facility. The case was prosecuted by the 11th Circuit Solicitor's Office. No further court proceedings are scheduled related to this conviction.