Guilty: Jury Says Williston Man Killed Local Pastor

Barnwell, SC—Thursday morning, Annie McCreary held pictures of the husband she remembers….the pastor who often went fishing.

Annie McCreary: “Just to think that somebody could kill my husband for no reason. He went to the river like he always did, he just wanted some peace.“

On July 6, 2007, Reverend Phillip McCreary went to a favorite fishing spot along the banks of the Edisto River. His body was later found there. He’d been shot in the back of the head.

Annie McCreary: “They just don’t understand our hurt, it hurts. Me and my husband had so much love for one another.“

Barbara Morgan, Solicitor: “We didn’t have anything other than a cold-blooded murder.“

During the trial 32-year-old William Allen Owens sat emotionless and listened to witnesses testify.

Annie McCreary: “Just to see him sitting there, he’s taking notes, writing…what are you doing? What are you doing?“

In court, Annie McCreary identified a gold cross necklace that was found on Owens’ property…she said it was her husband’s.

Morgan: “The one thing that I call divine intervention was the cross, his jewelry, and his jewelry was found four months later, and that people involved knew to come forward with it.“

After the verdict was read…. McCreary’s widow took time to thank the judge, the jury, and law enforcement for working non-stop to gather evidence.

But she says she still can’t understand why.

Annie McCreary: “To know that he just killed my husband for no reason, I can’t believe a person would do that. I just pray that Phil could have probably talked to him that day and give him a word from the Lord to change that situation but he didn’t give him a chance.“

Judge Jack Early called the act the most senseless killing he’d ever seen, and sentenced Owens to life in jail, without parole.