Off-duty Aiken County deputy charged in wife’s death

An off-duty Aiken County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and fired after his 24-year-old wife was shot to death in their North Augusta home.

Authorities said when officers arrived Saturday night, 23-year-old Matthew Blakley was running out with blood on his hands. He identified himself as a deputy and said he shot his wife in an accident.

A police report says officers found Candace Blakley in a bathtub bleeding from the head. Another man in the home had tried to do CPR.

Officers found a M4 rifle, a shell casing and a broken wedding ring on the bathroom floor.

Matthew Blakely was fired Sunday after seven months as a deputy.

The Associated Press

This story was originally published June 15, 2015 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Off-duty Aiken County deputy charged in wife’s death."