Update: Soldier Arrested For Murder Of Hunter Army Airfield Colleague

Update 10:20 a.m. Thursday:  We expect more details concerning this case as a news conference involved Savannah Police and Army officials from Hunter gets set to begin.  News 3 reporter JoAnn Merrigan is there and we’ll have updates as soon as the briefing begins.

His body left on a Hutchinson Island dirt road…not a proper resting place for anyone…much less a soldier and tonight there’s word of murder charges in Savannah’s latest homicide.  Here’s the breakdown of how we got to this point.  Last Friday the body of Army Specialist Necco McCrawl was found on a Hutchinson Island road.  McCrawl was assigned to the 1-10th Transportation Quartermaster Battalion out of Hunter Army Airfield.  He’s originally from Shreveport and joined the Army in 2006.  McCrawl never deployed.

Police also discovered McCrawl’s one-year old child was missing…but he was found near the intersection of Heidt Avenue and Old Louisville Road in Garden City.  The child was found sitting in a car seat by himself.  The good news—he was not harmed and is now in his mother’s care.
Today—Sylvester Horton, Jr was arraigned on murder charges.  He’d actually been in police custody within hours of McCrawl’s Body being found – arrested on financial transaction fraud charges.  We checked this afternoon for you—and this isn’t his first run in with the law.  Horton has three charges pending in Chatham County—speeding, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and deposit account fraud. 

Police plan to release more info on the murder charges tomorrow says Metro Police spokesman APO Gene Harley, “Last night we did place Mr. Sylvester Horton under arrest for the offense of murder and that’s in connection with July 2nd’s homicide of 21 year old Necco McCrawl.  At the present time we have a full press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning at police headquarters where Metro Police, along with the District Attorney’s office and the U.S. Army will be present to actually go over the case in it’s entirety.“ 

Previously police had said it was believed the suspect and victim knew each other.  That was apparently the case.  Horton is a member of the 3rd ID as well and both men were assigned to the same unit at Hunter Army Airfield.