Ex-Conway police officer murdered. Horry County cops searching for suspect in the case.
A retired Conway police officer was murdered and Horry County police are searching for his suspected killer.
Officers went to a Long Branch Road around 6 p.m. Thursday after a woman called 911 to say her son “did something.” The son also told a cousin he “did something wrong,” according to police radio traffic. Horry County police went to the home and found a 65-year-old dead.
James Odell Cochran, a retired Conway police officer, was dead at the home from an apparent homicide, county officials said.
Police are searching for Eric Kwajae-Mikhail Faulk, 22, of Conway in connection to the case. Faulk might be driving a 2004 Chevrolet K1500 Silverado with a South Carolina license plate of FFL-471.
Anyone with information on Faulk’s location is asked to call 843-248-1520. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Tim Collins lives next door to Cochran, whom he always knew as “Odell.” Cochran lived in a trailer slightly off Long Branch Road. On Friday, police tape still hung from a couple of trees on the property.
“He kept to himself mostly,” Collins said. “He was a good neighbor.”
Cochran was always working, even after retiring from the police department, Collins said. While the 6-foot-8-inch man mainly kept to himself, Collins said he liked to fish.
Faulk is Cochran’s step-son and Collins said he heard the retired cop died in a shooting. About 20 police officers were at the house on Thursday night, Collins said.
Conway police stated that Cochran retired as a lieutenant after serving for 38 years. He initially retired after 25 years, but returned for 13 more years as a community service officer.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his daughter, sons, sister and other family,” Conway police’s statement read. “We will be assisting with funeral plans to give him the full honors he deserves and has earned with his admirable service record.
“Those who worked with him over the years are deeply saddened, but everyone has a special moment they remember working alongside him. The Conway Police Department would like to thank members of the community for their support during this time as we extend our prayers and support to the family of one of our own, Odell Cochran.”
Faulk has a criminal history in Horry County, including a 2017 arrest by Horry County police on a false pretenses charge. Faulk was not present for his trial in Conway magistrate court, according to court records.
The trial happened in Faulk’s absence and his sentence was sealed in 2018. The sentence remains sealed, according to court records, indicating Faulk has not returned to court in the last two years.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 11:43 AM.
