Jimmy Watson, 29, pled guilty recently to the 2014 killing of his grandfather, Clyde Monahan.  

Circuit Judge Paul Burch sentenced Watson to 20.5 years.  Manslaughter is classified as a “no parole” offense, meaning Watson will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence.
On October 10, 2014, law enforcement was dispatched to a dirt road where four-wheeler riders found a body that was later identified as that of 92-year-old Monahan.  The investigation, led by Reggie Thompson of the Dillon County Sheriff’s Department, uncovered several key pieces of evidence.
Watson was the last family member seen with Monahan and was found driving Monahan’s car.  SLED’s Crime Scene Unit found Monahan’s blood in and on his car.  When Watson was arrested, he had Monahan’s wallet, cell phone and car keys in his possession.
During the court hearing, Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel said the family agreed to allow Watson to plead to the lesser charge of manslaughter rather than murder to avoid having to go through a trial.
“The Monahan family is as good a family as there is, and their sincerity and dignity were evident every time we met and at the hearing,” said Daniel, who prosecuted the case.  “This case has understandably been very difficult for them on multiple levels, and it’s my prayer that they may now begin to move on from this tragic situation.”
Deputy Public Defender Nathan Scales represented Watson and said at the hearing that Watson was under the heavy influence of multiple drugs at the time of the incident.