Columbus, NC: Former Fletcher police officer accused of killing wife in Polk County

9:37 PM, Feb. 23, 2011
COLUMBUS — A former Fletcher police officer married to a woman found shot to death last weekend faces first-degree murder charges.

Travis Lee McGraw, 44, of Hendersonville, is accused of killing Vanessa Yvonne Mintz in a Saluda hotel that Mintz owned. Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill declined to disclose evidence that linked McGraw to the crime, citing the ongoing investigation.

McGraw is a former Fletcher Police Department officer, where he worked from 2007-10. Police Chief Erik Summey declined to discuss McGraw's employment and reason for leaving.
“We are 100 percent confident that I have the man responsible in custody now,” Hill said.

Mintz was a prominent member of the Henderson County business community and worked at the Re/Max office in Hendersonville, according to her Facebook page. She is a former member of the board of directors at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, and her family has lived in Henderson County for nine generations, according to her personal website.
Hill would not give any specifics of the crime but said an autopsy of the body had been completed.
“It was a gunshot wound,” Hill said.

Police had originally said the crime was possibly a robbery. Hill did not know if there was a history of domestic violence involving the couple.
Hill met with Mintz's family after the arrest and informed them of the situation. Mintz family members released a statement Wednesday saying they would not make a public statement on the arrest.

Mintz has two daughters from a previous marriage and two grandchildren. Mintz and McGraw were married in 2009, according to her Facebook page.
“They are holding up good, obviously it is a tragic situation,” Hill said.

McGraw was arrested about noon in Henderson County.
He was transported to Polk County and made a first appearance in court. He is being held without bond.
McGraw is being housed in a state prison in Raleigh, partially because of his background in law enforcement, Hill said.

“There are a lot of issues, obviously,” Hill said. “That is one reason. There are some others.”
McGraw has been cooperative but has not spoken with law enforcement.
“He has been very quiet,” Hill said. “He has not made a comment. He has not made a statement. He has not said anything.”
McGraw's next court date is March 9.