Lincolnton man charged in 15-year-old murder case

DOUGLAS WAYNE TONEY

A Lincoln County man was indicted by a Columbia County Grand Jury Wednesday, July 18, on charges of murder, malice murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.

Douglas Wayne Toney, 34, of a Steed Lane address was charged in the death of Faxton Lamar Powell, Jr., 29, who was shot once in the abdomen with a .45-caliber weapon in September of 1992, according to Capt. Steven Morris of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Powell was found near Pumpkin Center in Columbia County and pronounced dead on the scene by the county coroner.

Toney was arrested by Columbia County deputies on Tuesday, July 24, after crossing the Little River Bridge into Lincoln County.

In his comments, Capt. Morris said the cold case has been reassigned to different investigators over the years. "We typically do this with a cold case because it gives us a fresh perspective."

For the most part, Toney's arrest is the result of a lead developed within the past two years by detectives and a tip received by law enforcement officers after details of the case were broadcast by a local television station.

Morris declined to discuss the motive behind the shooting.

Toney is currently being held without bond in the Columbia County Detention Center.