Horry County man accused of killing 3 family members, including Atlantic Beach Councilman

An Horry County man is accused of shooting and killing three family members in Richland County and Horry County, according to the Horry County Police Department.

Matthew Allen Dewitt, 25, was taken into custody after officers were called to a home around 4:40 p.m. in the 4000 block of Highway 319 outside of Conway for a death investigation, where 52-year-old Natasha Steven’s body was discovered.

An investigation determined that her death was a homicide. The coroner’s office believes that Stevens died earlier in the day.

Around 7 p.m. on Sunday, Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home in the 400 block of Greensprings Drive outside of Columbia for a welfare check. Deputies found two dead with gunshot wounds. The Richland County Coroner’s Office identified the two victims as Gloria Dewitt and James Dewitt II, both 52, of Columbia.

Information about who asked for the welfare check was not available.

James DeWitt II was an Atlantic Beach town councilman for a year, and split time between Atlantic Beach and Columbia, according to a WMBF News article. DeWitt’s LinkedIn page described him as the owner and operator of Legends Security & Sounds, a Columbia-based security system company.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Horry County Police Department are working together on the investigation, which is ongoing.

There was no word on a motive for the killings.

Dewitt is in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County.

“There is not believed to be a danger to the public and though the investigation is on-going, it is believed at this time that Matthew Dewitt acted alone,” the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said.

This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 6:24 PM.