Irmo, SC (Paul Kirby) – Respected West Columbia chiropractor Dr. James Greg Bonham, 63, of the Irmo area of Lexington County and his longtime companion Lisa Marie McCartha, 46, were both found deceased in their home on Friday, July 31, 2020. Their bodies were discovered after a family member of McCartha’s got concerned when she and her mother were unable to reach McCartha for approximately a week.
According to the family member that discovered the bodies of the pair and dialed 911, Bonham and McCartha had been romantically involved for approximately eight years and lived together in a home on Glen Rose Court in the Coldstream area of Lexington County. This is off Bush River Road not far from Irmo and the Lake Murray Dam.
McCartha’s sister said their mother first contacted her after she had tried but couldn't reach McCartha. This was not normal, so she became very concerned. On Wednesday, July 29, their mother went to the home herself to check on her daughter but was unable to get anyone to come to the door. She grew more worried and expressed that to McCartha's sister.
After speaking with their mother again, the sister took some time during her lunch on July 31st to go by the couple’s home on Glen Rose Court to check on her sister's welfare. When she arrived, no one came to the door, but she could clearly see through a glass that the couple’s dogs were in the home running loose. Animal feces were strewn across the interior of the home which she said was totally out of character for her sister. The sister discovered the door was unlocked, entered the home, and found her sister in the kitchen. She appeared to be dead. That’s when the sister backed out of the home and notified law enforcement.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department had deputies respond to the residence. They confirmed the couple was deceased. Those deputies secured the scene, notified their headquarters and Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher's office, and then waited until detectives from the Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Unit arrived. They then turned the crime scene over to those investigators.
After a full and thorough investigation into the matter, it was determined that Dr. Bonham shot and killed MaCartha before turning the gun on himself. It was also determined that the couple had died on or near July 25th, six days prior to the day their bodies were discovered.
Coroner Fisher's office worked alongside detectives in this investigation. Her office makes the final determination as to the cause and manner of death. She also made all official notifications.
No motive for the shooting has been released.
