Police: Man charged with murder in strangling death of Little River woman
A man has been charged with murder after police say he entered a home through a window and strangled a woman inside.
Horry County police arrived at a Little River home about 10:20 p.m. Dec. 4 and found Kathleen Fielis, 74, dead inside the bathroom, according to police records.
Joseph Brian Fielis, 39, is charged with murder and burglary, according to Horry County jail records. He has no bond set.
The Horry County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday Fielis’ death was being investigated as a homicide.
Horry County police officers were let into a home on Greenbriar Drive by Joseph Fielis, where they found Kathleen Fielis dead, according to an Horry County Police Department incident report.
Once inside, police officers detained Joseph Fielis and called animal control to take his dog.
Police say Joseph Fielis entered the Greenbriar Drive home by climbing through the window. Once inside, he strangled Katheleen Fielis to death manually “with malice aforethought,” according to arrest warrants.
Joseph Fielis had no visible injuries when police arrived, warrants said.
According to the warrants, police collected physical and forensic evidence as well as witness statements.
Joseph Fielis, of Little River, was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center about 3:15 a.m. Dec. 5, according to the jail website.
Horry County Police Department spokesperson Mikayla Moskov did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
