Alleged intruder choked to death

WALTERBORO -- The man of the house at the end of Bethea Street was forlorn and red-eyed Friday morning, just hours after he choked the life out of a man who he said kicked in the front door and attacked him.

"I was just protecting my house," said the man, who asked not to be identified because he and his family fear retribution. Also, police would not release the man's name. "There's nothing gratifying about this. Somebody's grieving right now."

Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey said Anthony Drayton, 37, of Walterboro died inside the single-story Bethea Street home from strangulation as a result of a chokehold the homeowner put on him during a struggle.

Police responded to a 911 call from the home about 8:15 p.m. Thursday and found the man unresponsive, still in the homeowner's grasp. He was pronounced dead shortly after, according to an incident report.

The man and his wife told police the suspect rang the doorbell and then forced his way inside when the homeowner opened the door.

Walterboro Police Chief Otis Rhodes said it will be up to the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office to determine if the homeowner will face charges, but said there was nothing at this time to indicate he will be.

A spokesman for the solicitor's office said the case is under investigation and no decision has been made.

Drayton served about 16 years in prison after he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 1992 in connection with a fatal stabbing in Colleton County in November 1991. He was released in 2008, according to the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

Rhodes said no weapons were recovered from the scene.

Rhodes also said there was no known connection between Drayton and the residents of the Bethea home.

He said they have not had any problems at that address in the past.

"It's just senseless," the homeowner said.

Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or on Twitter @andyparas.