CAROLINA FOREST -- An Horry County man is charged with murder for stabbing his wife to death Monday.
Horry County Police responded to a home on Quincy Hall Dr. at 8:40 p.m. Upon arrival, James Edward Lippert, 48, told officers he had just killed his wife, according to the police report.
Officers found Marsella Lippert, 39, inside the home with severe facial trauma and what appeared to be several stab wounds to the chest, according to the police report.
Detectives with the Horry County Police Department's Violent Crimes Section learned that Lippert and his wife got into an argument, and it became physical.
The couple's daughters, ages five and eight, were found in a bedroom. They told police that they heard screaming, but didn't see anything. The children were put in the custody of a neighbor until family from out of state could come and get them.
Lippert is being held at J Reuben Long Detention Center.
A SLED background check shows that Lippert had no prior record. Horry County police say they had not been called to the home before.
Tuesday, Marsella Lippert's sister, Tammy Butcher, issued this statement on behalf of the family:
"We are all deeply saddened and shocked by this tragedy. Marcy was a devoted and loving mother to two beautiful young girls and a sister to four siblings. We were blessed to recently spend an early Thanksgiving with her after the recent passing of our mother. The family is completely shocked by this news but we are confident that the investigation will bring justice to our loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She will be sadly missed by all."
Another family member, who was in town from North Carolina, spoke to NewsChannel 15 off camera. He said while it was far too soon to comment on the matter, he would say the Lippert's were "good people."
NewsChannel 15's Holly Morgan contributed to this report.
