LANCASTER, S.C. — A Heath Springs man received a second life sentence this week for a second murder he committed in 2016.
Arkevus Cauthen, 36, was sentenced to life in prison following a jury trial Friday, April 19, in Lancaster County General Sessions Court.
On May 24, 2016, deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a murdered woman in the Heath Springs area of Lancaster County.
The victim, Sandra Johnson, 54, was found with multiple stab wounds inside her residence by her daughter, after the family grew concerned due to no contact with Johnson for several days. The family reported their last contact with Johnson was May 20.
An eyewitness saw Cauthen in the area of Johnson’s home that evening. Cell phone records and forensic evidence including DNA revealed key evidence in the investigation linking Cauthen to Johnson’s death.
A jury was impaneled, and the state called this case to trial Monday, April 15. After a week-long trial, the jury deliberated for several hours Friday before returning a guilty verdict on the charges of murder and possession of a weapon/knife during the commission of a violent crime.
Judge Frank R. Addy sentenced Cauthen to life without the possibility of parole in the S.C. Department of Corrections.
First murder conviction
Cauthen was previously convicted by a separate Lancaster County jury in September 2022 of the 2016 murder and armed robbery of John “Hardy” Duncan, also of Heath Springs.
He is currently serving life without parole, plus 40 years for that murder.
Both murders occurred within a week of each other, and both victims died from multiple stab wounds.
Addy imposed Cauthen’s new sentence to run consecutive to his 2022 conviction and sentence.
Special prosecutor Lisa Collins and senior assistant solicitor Nicole Wine prosecuted both cases for the Lancaster County Solicitor’s Office.
“We appreciate that the judge saw fit to give a consecutive life sentence; it reflects that he took two lives in very horrific way. We also understand how difficult it is for jurors to give up their daily lives and sit for week listening to such horrific details; we certainly appreciate their service.” Collins said.
“This one’s been a long time coming. I’m proud of our team for not giving up and fighting for justice for both victims. The first murder trial ended with a hung jury, so we’ve actually tried this defendant three times,” said 6th Circuit Solictior Randy Newman.
“I am confident our community is safer with Mr. Cauthen behind bars and I pray that both victims’ families now have some closure.”
