Greer Man Arrested for Murder

On May 29th at approximately 4:45 am the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from Edwards Lake Road in reference to a female subject being unresponsive. Upon arrival at approximately 4:56 am deputies observed the caller, identified as James Byron Rushton, attempting to give the female victim CPR. Medics from the Fire Department and EMS arrived on scene and did pronounce the female deceased. Initially the deputies were advised by Rushton, who lives at Edwards Lake Road that the female had suffered from a possible drug overdose.

During an initial interview Rushton told deputies that he picked up the female victim from her boyfriends house after the victim and her boyfriend had been involved in a verbal altercation at approximately 7:00 pm on Saturday, May 28th. It was determined that Rushton brought the victim back to his house during that time.

An autopsy was conducted on the female victim this morning, May 30th. During the course of the investigation and from the results of the Greenville County Coroner’s Office it has been determined that the female victim died as a direct result of a violent sexual assault by James Byron Rushton.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Murder this morning and Deputies arrested Rushton this afternoon. Rushton has been placed in the Greenville County Detention where he awaits a bond hearing scheduled at 9:30 pm.