Bond Set for Gaylesville Man Charged with Murder

BenTillmanMcCoolBond has been set at $310,000 for a Cherokee County man charged with murder.

48 year old Ben T. McCool of Gaylesville stands accused of killing Scottie Eugene Abernathy, whose body was pulled from the Chattooga River on January 29th.

McCool had been arrested the day before, on charges of torture/willful abuse of a child, and domestic violence by strangulation in an unrelated case.

He was subsequently charged with murder, following the discovery of the body.

The initial investigation, conducted by the Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit and Sheriff’s Office, led authorities to suspect that Abernathy had been shot, and his body dumped in the river; the 38 year old victim was reported missing by family members on January 28th.

No information has been released regarding any possible motive in the case, which remains under investigation by the Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit.

Sheriff Jeff Shaver said he appreciates the assistance of the Major Crimes Unit, the Cherokee County Rescue Squad, ALEA’s Marine Police & Aviation Unit, and the JSU Center for Applied Forensic Sciences.

McCool currently remains in the Cherokee County Detention Center.

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