Chatham Man Faces Murder Charges

A Chatham County man is charged with murdering his girlfriend.

Investigators found 48-year-old Karen Crawford dead in her bed Monday. Preliminary autopsy results suggest Crawford died of strangulation.

Peter Matson, Crawford's boyfriend, told detectives that he last saw Crawford just before midnight on New Year's Eve. He also told them he did not know what happened because he had taken a bottle of sleeping pills.

Matson was transported to UNC Hospital for medical care and was later transported to John Umstead Hospital in Butner for evaluation.

Deputies arrested him Thursday after he was released from the hospital. He is currently in jail without bond.