Effingham Man Beats House Guest to Death With Shovel

10:33 AM, Jul 5, 2012   |    comments
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CLYO, Ga. (AP) -- An Effingham County man has been arrested after authorities say he beat his house guest to death with a shovel.

Sheriff's deputies responding to an assault call around 8 a.m. Wednesday found 63-year-old Arthur Scruggs inside the Clyo home suffering from blunt force injuries to his head. He pronounced dead at a hospital.

Deputies questioned 51-year-old Darrell Lovett and charged him with murder. Lovett was being held in the Effingham County jail, and it wasn't immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Scruggs was visiting from out of town. Authorities say Lovett used a shovel to hit Scruggs in the head multiple times during an argument.

The investigation into the killing is ongoing. An autopsy was planned for Thursday.