Midlands man fatally beat, strangled woman he was in relationship with, coroner says
A Midlands woman is dead and the man she was in a relationship with was charged with murder Tuesday, the Sumter Police Department said.
The woman died during a domestic disturbance, police said in a news release. She was strangled and suffered blunt head trauma, Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker said.
Just before 1:30 a.m., officers responded to calls about the incident at the Downtown Sumter Motor Inn, according to the release. That is in a densely-packed area where Broad Street turns into North Washington Street, near Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital.
When they arrived, officers found the body of Ebony Elizabeth Canty, police said.
The 35-year-old Sumter woman suffered visible injuries to her upper body, according to the release.
Canty’s cause of death was determined after an autopsy was performed Wednesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Baker said.
Responding officers also found Freddie Ladale Curtis at the motel, and he was arrested, according to the release.
The 44-year-old Sumter man was taken to the Sumter County Detention Center, where he was charged with murder, jail records show.
Curtis was denied bond Wednesday, jail records show.
Information on how long Curtis and Canty had been in a relationship was not available, but they did not live at the same residence, according to the release.
Canty’s death remains under investigation by police and the coroner’s office.
Curtis pleaded guilty to a public disorderly conduct charge in 2012, Sumter County court records show. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail on the conviction, according to court records.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 1:53 PM.
