Bond Denied after High Speed Chase on I-85

Suspect Faces Murder Charges After High Speed Chase

By: By Jonathan Carlson Reporter | News Channel 7
Published: July 10, 2008

Bond was denied Friday for Steven Wilkins, who led police on a high speed chase through three upstate counties Thursday.

Deputies say Wilkins of Spartanburg, shot and killed his brother in Anderson County, before fleeing the scene and and sparking the chase, which ended in Spartanburg County off of Business 85.

The suspect's wife, Lisette Landin was talking on the phone with Wilkins while he was in the chase.
She spoke with NewsChannel 7's Jonathan Carlson, who asked: "If he was defending himself...why did he lead police on a high speed chase?" She replied: "He was scared. My husband is not a murderer...he doesn't kill anybody...he is a good working man."

She said he told her on the phone he shot his brother in self defense after a fight.
As the chase came to an end, "The last thing I heard was he wasn't going to make it home. And I love you and the kids." "He was trying to get home to me. I told him to come home."

Wilkins is being held in Anderson County and deputies there say he will be charged with murder, and should be arraigned Friday.

Background details:
Anderson County Sheriff's Office confirms a homicide at 212 Sussex Way in the Stone Haven subdivision this afternoon.

Deputies arrived at the crime scene at 12:37 p.m. after receiving reports of gunshots in the area. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a man killed at the location, apparently of gunshot wounds. The victim was identified as Marcus Levon Wilkins, according to Coroner Don McCowan. McCowan also told us that the suspect's and victim's parents were in the house when the incident occurred as well as the victim's son.

Deputies said that a suspect in the case fled the scene in a white Ford Expedition. He was spotted traveling north on I-85 in Anderson County where deputies began pursuit, finally ending in Spartanburg County with the help of the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect was captured at the intersection of Business I-85 and I-585. Officers on the scene tell us he was driving in excess of 100 m.p.h and riding on his rim while talking on a cell phone during the chase.

To view pdf files of warrants against Wilkins click here.

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