Susan Renee Lanham faces a murder charge for the September death of her husband, Eddie Lanham.Investigators say a Summerville, Ga., woman is responsible for the death of her husband.
It's not clear what her role was, or who else was involved.
The Chattooga County Sheriff's Office arrested Susan Renee Lanham on Friday morning, charging her with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder and aggravated assault. Lanham called the police on the night of Sept. 18, saying she returned home to find her husband, Eddie Lanham, lying on the bed, with three gunshot wounds to his body.
Sheriff Mark Schrader said Susan Lanham's claim that she was gone the night her husband died is correct. But in police interviews over several months, Schrader said, the rest of her story did not hold up.
"That's what started the direction that we went," he said of the investigation.
Susan Lanham met with detectives for a follow-up interview a couple of weeks ago. She did not bring an attorney. Working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the sheriff's office also searched electronic devices, bolstering its case against her.
Investigators have not made any other arrests, but they are still working. They also are looking for the weapon, a small-caliber handgun.
"We are continuing our investigation," Schrader said. "It's not going to stop with her arrest. There were one or more persons, other than [Susan Lanham], that evidence led us to interview."
Susan Lanham appeared before a magistrate Friday afternoon, but her bond cannot be set until she goes before a superior court judge at a later date. A judge has not scheduled her bond hearing.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LetsJett.