Greenville man sentenced in 2015 cold case murder, arson

(WSPA) – A Greenville man was sentenced to 35 years Tuesday for a 2015 cold case murder.

Officials said 48-year-old Jason Travis Merrill pled guilty on Nov. 5 to second-degree arson and the murder of his former roommate Cecil 'Sandy' Sanders Morris.

In 2015, deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office found Morris's body after authorities responded to a house fire on Michael Drive. Investigators said the body was found in the basement, wrapped in tarp and blankets and in the beginning stages of decomposing.

It was apparent that Morris was killed prior to the fire.

Following the initial investigation, the case went cold due to a lack of forensic evidence.

In 2020, investigators re-examined the case, which led officials to uncover records, forensic evidence and surveillance footage that led them to Merrill.

Autopsy findings presented during the plea established that between Oct. 11, 2015, and Oct. 15, 2015, Merrill shot Morris twice in the back of the neck before later setting him on fire at the home on Michael Drive.

It was reported that Merrill had flown to California between Oct. 18 and Oct. 28.

Merrill was seen on surveillance videos returning to Michael Drive on Oct. 30 driving the victim's vehicle and leaving several hours later.

Deputies believe Merrill then went to a relative's home in Brevard, N.C., where he was taken into custody on Nov. 20, 2020. Morris's vehicle was also recovered at the Brevard residence.

Merrill's case was the first one solved following the creation of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office dedicated Cold Case Unit.

Officials said he will serve his sentence in the SC Department of Corrections Facility.