Topline: Sheriff’s deputies found the remains of 78-year-old James Wheeler during a search of the residence, months after he was reported missing.
Published: October 13, 2025 8:00 am ET
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EDGEFIELD, SC — Authorities in Edgefield County have charged a South Carolina woman with murder following the discovery of her father’s body inside the home they shared.
The remains of 78-year-old James Wheeler were located Thursday morning after investigators executed a search warrant at 355 Copeland Circle — ending a months-long missing person investigation that began in June.
According to Sheriff Jody Rowland, Wheeler’s daughter, 57-year-old Monica Lee Wheeler-Walton, has been arrested and charged with murder as well as graves/destruction, desecration or removal of human remains. Wheeler-Walton gave a brief statement to deputies before asking for an attorney, Rowland told The Augusta Press.
“We were just looking for a crime scene, and we sure found it,” Rowland said. “The entire house was a crime scene.”
Detectives believe Wheeler’s body had been inside the home for several months, possibly moved multiple times before investigators arrived. “Needless to say, Mr. Wheeler was right there,” Rowland said during a media briefing Thursday, as reported by WRDW.
Wheeler was first reported missing on June 24 by his brother, who told deputies he had not seen or heard from him in over 11 days. That same brother attempted to video call Wheeler’s phone six days earlier and was surprised when a man from Missouri — someone he recognized but couldn’t name — answered instead. The man reportedly said the phone no longer belonged to Wheeler, according to missing person reports cited by WRDW.
That tip led deputies to contact authorities in Jefferson City, Missouri, where Wheeler had once owned property. However, Jefferson City Police reported they had no record of Wheeler since 2016.
Wheeler, a retired military veteran, was known to travel frequently, sometimes disappearing for weeks at a time — a pattern that initially delayed concern. “Most of the family became concerned because it wasn’t uncommon for him to be gone for several weeks,” Rowland explained to The Augusta Press. “But when he didn’t come back over the summer, we started getting several calls from family, and we knew there was an issue with the daughter.”
The case remained stagnant for months despite early cooperation from family members. Investigators began to make progress roughly three weeks ago after noticing there had been no activity in Wheeler’s bank account, according to WRDW.
On Thursday, investigators arrived at the Copeland Circle residence with a search warrant and found Wheeler’s body inside. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the time and cause of death.
Neighbors say Wheeler had recently moved in with his daughter and parked his camper on the property. “Sheriff Rowland posted he’s been missing since June. And I’m like, he was—I literally saw him in June,” said Anthony Crane, a neighbor who often helped out with yardwork. Crane told WRDW he had worked on a backyard garden project with Wheeler-Walton and had spent time with her on the patio.
But in recent months, neighbors say Monica’s behavior had shifted. “She was the nicest person in the world when we first met,” Crane said. “It was like the whole demeanor changed… it wasn’t the same Monica.”
Wheeler-Walton, according to her LinkedIn page, previously worked as a custodial and maintenance supervisor at Kids Community College in Pensacola, Florida. Edgefield County officials now list her as unemployed. Public records show she also has a prior arrest for criminal mischief in Pensacola in 2020.
At the crime scene, deputies were seen removing bags of evidence and towing a white Ram truck with Missouri plates, according to WRDW. Sheriff Rowland has indicated that additional arrests and charges may follow as investigators continue “connecting the dots.”
Though the discovery has rattled the neighborhood, Rowland emphasized that residents are not in danger. “This was Mr. Wheeler’s home to our knowledge,” the sheriff said. “And now it’s a crime scene.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Retired Veteran Disappears, Found Dead Months Later in Daughter’s Home
Sheriff’s deputies found the remains of 78-year-old James Wheeler during a search of the residence, months after he was reported missing.
By Jacob Charles
Published: October 13, 2025 8:00 am ET
EDGEFIELD, SC — Authorities in Edgefield County have charged a South Carolina woman with murder following the discovery of her father’s body inside the home they shared.
The remains of 78-year-old James Wheeler were located Thursday morning after investigators executed a search warrant at 355 Copeland Circle — ending a months-long missing person investigation that began in June.
According to Sheriff Jody Rowland, Wheeler’s daughter, 57-year-old Monica Lee Wheeler-Walton, has been arrested and charged with murder as well as graves/destruction, desecration or removal of human remains. Wheeler-Walton gave a brief statement to deputies before asking for an attorney, Rowland told The Augusta Press.
“We were just looking for a crime scene, and we sure found it,” Rowland said. “The entire house was a crime scene.”
Detectives believe Wheeler’s body had been inside the home for several months, possibly moved multiple times before investigators arrived. “Needless to say, Mr. Wheeler was right there,” Rowland said during a media briefing Thursday, as reported by WRDW.
Wheeler was first reported missing on June 24 by his brother, who told deputies he had not seen or heard from him in over 11 days. That same brother attempted to video call Wheeler’s phone six days earlier and was surprised when a man from Missouri — someone he recognized but couldn’t name — answered instead. The man reportedly said the phone no longer belonged to Wheeler, according to missing person reports cited by WRDW.
That tip led deputies to contact authorities in Jefferson City, Missouri, where Wheeler had once owned property. However, Jefferson City Police reported they had no record of Wheeler since 2016.
Wheeler, a retired military veteran, was known to travel frequently, sometimes disappearing for weeks at a time — a pattern that initially delayed concern. “Most of the family became concerned because it wasn’t uncommon for him to be gone for several weeks,” Rowland explained to The Augusta Press. “But when he didn’t come back over the summer, we started getting several calls from family, and we knew there was an issue with the daughter.”
The case remained stagnant for months despite early cooperation from family members. Investigators began to make progress roughly three weeks ago after noticing there had been no activity in Wheeler’s bank account, according to WRDW.
On Thursday, investigators arrived at the Copeland Circle residence with a search warrant and found Wheeler’s body inside. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the time and cause of death.
Neighbors say Wheeler had recently moved in with his daughter and parked his camper on the property. “Sheriff Rowland posted he’s been missing since June. And I’m like, he was—I literally saw him in June,” said Anthony Crane, a neighbor who often helped out with yardwork. Crane told WRDW he had worked on a backyard garden project with Wheeler-Walton and had spent time with her on the patio.
But in recent months, neighbors say Monica’s behavior had shifted. “She was the nicest person in the world when we first met,” Crane said. “It was like the whole demeanor changed… it wasn’t the same Monica.”
Wheeler-Walton, according to her LinkedIn page, previously worked as a custodial and maintenance supervisor at Kids Community College in Pensacola, Florida. Edgefield County officials now list her as unemployed. Public records show she also has a prior arrest for criminal mischief in Pensacola in 2020.
At the crime scene, deputies were seen removing bags of evidence and towing a white Ram truck with Missouri plates, according to WRDW. Sheriff Rowland has indicated that additional arrests and charges may follow as investigators continue “connecting the dots.”
Though the discovery has rattled the neighborhood, Rowland emphasized that residents are not in danger. “This was Mr. Wheeler’s home to our knowledge,” the sheriff said. “And now it’s a crime scene.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Retired Veteran Disappears, Found Dead Months Later in Daughter’s Home
Sheriff’s deputies found the remains of 78-year-old James Wheeler during a search of the residence, months after he was reported missing.
By Jacob Charles
Published: October 13, 2025 8:00 am ET
EDGEFIELD, SC — Authorities in Edgefield County have charged a South Carolina woman with murder following the discovery of her father’s body inside the home they shared.
The remains of 78-year-old James Wheeler were located Thursday morning after investigators executed a search warrant at 355 Copeland Circle — ending a months-long missing person investigation that began in June.
According to Sheriff Jody Rowland, Wheeler’s daughter, 57-year-old Monica Lee Wheeler-Walton, has been arrested and charged with murder as well as graves/destruction, desecration or removal of human remains. Wheeler-Walton gave a brief statement to deputies before asking for an attorney, Rowland told The Augusta Press.
“We were just looking for a crime scene, and we sure found it,” Rowland said. “The entire house was a crime scene.”
Detectives believe Wheeler’s body had been inside the home for several months, possibly moved multiple times before investigators arrived. “Needless to say, Mr. Wheeler was right there,” Rowland said during a media briefing Thursday, as reported by WRDW.
Wheeler was first reported missing on June 24 by his brother, who told deputies he had not seen or heard from him in over 11 days. That same brother attempted to video call Wheeler’s phone six days earlier and was surprised when a man from Missouri — someone he recognized but couldn’t name — answered instead. The man reportedly said the phone no longer belonged to Wheeler, according to missing person reports cited by WRDW.
That tip led deputies to contact authorities in Jefferson City, Missouri, where Wheeler had once owned property. However, Jefferson City Police reported they had no record of Wheeler since 2016.
Wheeler, a retired military veteran, was known to travel frequently, sometimes disappearing for weeks at a time — a pattern that initially delayed concern. “Most of the family became concerned because it wasn’t uncommon for him to be gone for several weeks,” Rowland explained to The Augusta Press. “But when he didn’t come back over the summer, we started getting several calls from family, and we knew there was an issue with the daughter.”
The case remained stagnant for months despite early cooperation from family members. Investigators began to make progress roughly three weeks ago after noticing there had been no activity in Wheeler’s bank account, according to WRDW.
On Thursday, investigators arrived at the Copeland Circle residence with a search warrant and found Wheeler’s body inside. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the time and cause of death.
Neighbors say Wheeler had recently moved in with his daughter and parked his camper on the property. “Sheriff Rowland posted he’s been missing since June. And I’m like, he was—I literally saw him in June,” said Anthony Crane, a neighbor who often helped out with yardwork. Crane told WRDW he had worked on a backyard garden project with Wheeler-Walton and had spent time with her on the patio.
But in recent months, neighbors say Monica’s behavior had shifted. “She was the nicest person in the world when we first met,” Crane said. “It was like the whole demeanor changed… it wasn’t the same Monica.”
Wheeler-Walton, according to her LinkedIn page, previously worked as a custodial and maintenance supervisor at Kids Community College in Pensacola, Florida. Edgefield County officials now list her as unemployed. Public records show she also has a prior arrest for criminal mischief in Pensacola in 2020.
At the crime scene, deputies were seen removing bags of evidence and towing a white Ram truck with Missouri plates, according to WRDW. Sheriff Rowland has indicated that additional arrests and charges may follow as investigators continue “connecting the dots.”
Though the discovery has rattled the neighborhood, Rowland emphasized that residents are not in danger. “This was Mr. Wheeler’s home to our knowledge,” the sheriff said. “And now it’s a crime scene.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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