In the early morning hours of April 2, 2017, the life of 31-year-old Michael Harvey Cox was tragically cut short. The male Florence, South Carolina resident was at the America's Best Value Inn on TV Road when he was shot and killed. The Florence County Coroner's Office later confirmed his identity and the cause of his death.
In the weeks that followed the deadly shooting, law enforcement officials from the Florence County Sheriff's Office worked diligently to piece together the events of
that morning. Their investigation led them to identify a suspect in the case. The collaborative efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Darlington County Sheriff's Office, and the Florence County Sheriff's Office culminated in the apprehension of a suspect.
On April 24, 2017, 38-year-old Merrick Jason Matthews of Darlington was taken into custody and charged with the murder of Michael Harvey Cox. Following his arrest, Matthews was booked into the Florence County Detention Center to await a bond hearing. The motive for the shooting was not immediately released by authorities.
