Conway man charged with beating girlfriend and son, killing cat

Edward Jacob Bilton charged with beating his live-in girlfriend, her son, and killing a cat.

J Ruben Long Detention Center

By ERIC WALTERS
WBTW News 13 Managing Editor
Published: July 20, 2009

Horry County Police charged a Conway man with beating his live-in girlfriend, punching her son in the face and killing her cat after arguing over her son playing video games.

According to a press release, Edward Jacob Bilton, 38, got into an fight with his live-in girlfriend while her son played video games around 7:30 p.m.Saturday night at her home off Hwy 378 near Conway.

Police said Bilton began choking the victim. Her son tried to help her, when Bilton began punching him repeatedly in the face.

When the initial altercation was over, Bilton went outside and poured gasoline on the house, threatening to burn it down.

He also killed the family cat by strangling it. The suspect was called out of the house by police and taken into custody without incident.

Bilton is charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, criminal domestic violence, attempt to burn and ill treatment of animals.

He is currently in custody at the J. Rueben Long Detention Center.