A Georgia man who pleaded guilty to shooting his wife in the head while she slept will face more than a decade in prison.
On the morning of September 7, 2022, James Wilson III, 77, called 911 to report the shooting and told the McDuffie County Sheriff that he had killed his wife. During a press conference held days after Wilson was arrested for the murder of his wife, 75-year-old Virginia “Sue” Wilson, Sheriff Logan Marshall stated that he was among the first to arrive at the scene. Marshall and his deputies were greeted by the sight of James Wilson in his front yard, lying on the ground and holding a gun to his chest.
Terry Lloyd, an Assistant District Attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit, described the confrontation in court on Thursday, saying James Wilson allegedly told Marshall, “I done made a mess, I killed her.”
According to Marshall, James Wilson also mentioned that “his wife was in the house.” Marshall contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and turned over the case to them. GBI Special Agent in Charge Pat Morgan stated that there was a brief standoff between James Wilson and authorities, but they were able to “peacefully” detain and take him into custody.
James Wilson, who never explained why he killed his wife, was charged with murder and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.
His defense attorney, Grant Usry, argued for leniency, telling Judge Chip Hardin, “We are now referring to a man who is 77 years old. He is in good health at the moment. He is weak. He struggles to manage his diet and intake. He has a difficult time understanding what is going on with his own body.”
On Thursday, Hardin accepted the plea deal and sentenced James Wilson to 15 years in prison without parole. Following that, he will serve the next 20 years on probation.
