An Evans man has been charged with murder in the overnight death of his wife at the Masters Inn on Washington Road in Augusta, authorities said.
Michael Paul Mitchell, 53, is accused of strangling 51-year-old Marchelle “Hope” Pilger with a towel, authorities said.
Just after midnight Thursday, authorities from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to a distress call at the Masters Inn at 3027 Washington Road. What initially began as a report of a suspicious situation escalated rapidly as deputies arrived to discover the lifeless body of Pilger.
Tragically, the efforts of law enforcement to revive Pilger proved futile, and she was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Deputy Coroner. The investigation swiftly shifted focus to a suspect identified as Mitchell, also a resident of the 900 block of River Bound Court in Evans. Mitchell was promptly detained by authorities and subsequently escorted to the Criminal Investigations Division for further questioning.
As the inquiry unfolded, the clouds of suspicion solidified into formal charges against Mitchell, who was arrested for murder. The suspect has a long criminal record, with previous arrests for discharging a firearm on another person’s property, pointing a gun at another person, shoplifting and more.
Note: If you have a photo of victim Marchelle Pilger to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.
