Civil lawsuit filed against homicide suspect

A lawsuit has been filed against an Oconee County man accused of killing his wife and then hiding her body.  The lawsuit alleges wrongful death and fraudulent conveyance, among other legal grounds, against Lee Mikael Cawthon and a second man who the plaintiff believes to be Cawthon’s half-brother, Thomas Monroe. The lawsuit names as plaintiff Lutrica Murray, the personal representative of the estate of Rebecca Murray Cawthon.  It alleges that “on or about April 17th or 18th, 2017 Defendant Lee Mikael Cawthon did cause the death of the Decedent by shooting her in the head and chest at their residence on Welcome Church Road….”  On May 4, Coroner Karl Addis announced that a body presumed to be that of Mrs. Cawthon was found concealed in a garage/shop-type building on their property.  The lawsuit alleges that after Mr. Cawthon’s arrest, Mr. Cawthon transferred the 12-acre property by deed to Thomas Monroe “for no or nominal consideration for the purposes of and to avoid a judgment in this matter.” The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and requests damages against Mr. Cawthon and other damages to be determined by the jury.