The first time around, James R. Garner pleaded guilty to beating his wife to death. This morning, he did it again.

In his second chance at a trial, Garner pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in his wife’s wife’s 2001 death. And once again, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. This time, however, Garner will receive credit for time served, and has waived any rights to an appeal.

In June 2003, Garner pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the Dec. 26, 2001 death of his wife, Kathy Garner. While James Garner entered a plea of guilty, court officials say that technically Garner did not admit to committing the crime.

Kathy Garner had been found beaten to death, under her vehicle, at Molly’s Rock State Park.

Within days of going to trial, James Garner felt there was enough evidence to convict him of the murder, the defense related at the time. If found guilty by a jury, Garner could have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, or the death penalty.

But with the plea, James Garner was sentenced by a judge to serve 25 years in prison.

Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace says James Garner later filed post conviction relief action.

The request for relief stemmed from an allegation that a vehicle was spotted at Molly’s Rock earlier that morning. James Garner said if he had known about the sighting, he would not have pleaded guilty.

The relief request was granted, and the case was returned to the solicitor’s office this February to be retried.

Kathy Garner, a Prosperity resident, worked at the Whitmire Post Office and did not show up for work that Wednesday morning in December. Co-workers and family soon started looking for the normally quite punctual woman.

The search began with Kathy Garner’s family searching the main roads between Prosperity and Whitmire, and then ventured onto side roads.

Around noon, one of Kathy Garner’s brothers found the 42-year-old woman lying in a pool of blood underneath her vehicle, which was parked near the picnic area at Molly’s Rock.

Forensic reports determined that Kathy Garner died earlier that morning due to blows to her head from a blunt object.

Later, an autopsy revealed she had been stuck in the head at least 16 times. Newberry Pathologist Dr. Joel Sexton said at the time it was one of the worst beatings he had ever seen.

Investigators noted signs of a struggle between Kathy Garner and her attacker, but did not believe that Kathy Garner went to the picnic shelter off S.C. Highway 176 by force.

As the investigation continued, deputies allegedly received conflicting stories from James Garner. They then served a search warrant on the husband and reportedly found Kathy Garner’s blood in his car. Also found was a pry bar in the toolbox of his vehicle, allegedly with Kathy Garner’s blood and DNA on it. At the time, the pry bar was believed to be the murder weapon.

After the post conviction relief was granted, James Garner was transferred out of the state’s custody and, since February, housed at the Newberry County Detention Center.