A 48-year-old man who shot his wife in the back of the head and left her body in the home with her 10-year-old son was convicted of murder and sentenced on Thursday.John Calvin Sledge got into an argument on Jan. 29, 2014, with his wife, 51-year-old Kimberly Davis Sledge at their Pelzer home. Kimberly Sledge’s 10-year-old son testified that he heard his mother and stepfather arguing, and when he came out of his bedroom, he found his stepfather on top of his mother. He said he pushed John Sledge off and went back to his bedroom.The boy said that moments later, he heard a loud boom that “shook the house.” When he came out of the bedroom, the boy found Sledge gone and his mother dead on the floor of the guest bathroom. Sledge had shot her in the back of the head with a .357 handgun.The boy called 911 and identified Sledge as the suspect. Greenville County deputies pulled Sledge over on Highway 25 and arrested him a short time later.Sledge was convicted of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful conduct toward a child. He was sentenced to life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole.

A 48-year-old man who shot his wife in the back of the head and left her body in the home with her 10-year-old son was convicted of murder and sentenced on Thursday.

John Calvin Sledge got into an argument on Jan. 29, 2014, with his wife, 51-year-old Kimberly Davis Sledge at their Pelzer home. Kimberly Sledge’s 10-year-old son testified that he heard his mother and stepfather arguing, and when he came out of his bedroom, he found his stepfather on top of his mother. He said he pushed John Sledge off and went back to his bedroom.


The boy said that moments later, he heard a loud boom that “shook the house.” When he came out of the bedroom, the boy found Sledge gone and his mother dead on the floor of the guest bathroom. Sledge had shot her in the back of the head with a .357 handgun.

The boy called 911 and identified Sledge as the suspect. Greenville County deputies pulled Sledge over on Highway 25 and arrested him a short time later.

Sledge was convicted of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful conduct toward a child. He was sentenced to life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole.