76-Year-Old Man, Charged in Estranged Wife's Murder, Dies Two Days After Landing in Jail

NEWBERRY, S.C. (TheBlaze/AP) — A Pennsylvania man charged with his wife's death is dead just two days after landing in a South Carolina jail.

Charles Butler (Image source: Newberry County Sheriff's Office/WHNS-TV)

The Newberry County Sheriff's Office said Sunday that 76-year-old Charles Butler of Chambersburg, Pa., died Saturday of natural causes. The agency said Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton determined that Butler's heart stopped beating, according to WHNS-TV in Greenville.

He was being held on charges he killed 72-year-old Andreena Butler of Newberry on December 21. Deputies said Butler shot his estranged wife in the head, according to WHNS, adding that a friend found her body the same day she was killed.

The two had been married for 50 years before they separated and Charles Butler moved to Chambersburg, WHNS noted, although it wasn't reported when they separated.

Newberry County sheriff's officials say Butler was arrested by in his central Pennsylvania hometown and extradited to South Carolina on Thursday to face charges.

On Saturday deputies said Butler became disoriented and then unresponsive during a video visitation, WHNS reported, adding that corrections officers said they attempted lifesaving measures until EMS arrived and pronounced Butler dead at the scene.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division will investigate Charles Butler's death because he died while in official custody.