Solicitor Barry Barnette issued the following press release.
A Chesnee woman has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after admitted to shooting her former boyfriend to death.
Amy N. Taylor, 34, interrupted her trial on Wednesday to plead guilty to murder. Circuit Judge Lee Alford, in the last case before his retirement, issued the sentence this afternoon. In a separate hearing, Judge Alford ruled she was ineligible for parole.
Taylor shot James Earl Sprouse, 57, of Chesnee, to death on March 3, 2017. The victim was found wrapped in multiple tarps in a wooded area near the couple’s McSwain Road home. It was determined that he had one gunshot wound on his right side and two gunshots wounds to his upper back.
During their investigation, sheriff’s deputies learned the shooting occurred in the bedroom of the couple’s house. Blood stains were found on the carpet and on the wall. Two trash bags full of bedding were also found in the room along with cleaning supplies and a box of latex gloves.
Taylor confessed to the shooting after giving multiple different stories to investigators, but claimed to be the victim of physical and mental abuse. Deputies didn’t see any injuries on the arms or hands of Taylor. Deputies checked their files and didn’t see any previous reports of domestic violence. They also found evidence on her cell phone that indicated she planned to shoot him that morning.
Deputies visited a local retailer and found security video of Fowler purchasing the bungee cord, tarp and the duct tape that were used to transport and dump the body in the woods.
Assistant Solicitors Eddie Hunter and Hope Coleman prosecuted the case.
