Polk County could hold its first murder trial in more than a decade with a trial date set for Travis Lee McGraw, who is charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, Vanessa Mintz in 2011.

McGraw’s trial is set for Polk County Superior Court beginning the week of Jan. 21, 2014 with Judge Marvin Pope presiding. Jury duty notices will be sent out in December. Assistant District Attorney Alex Bass of District 29-A took over the prosecution of the case in August.

McGraw posted a $750,000 bond in May and was released from custody after being held since February 2011.

McGraw is accused of killing Mintz at the Saluda Mountain Lodge, which her family owned at the time, on Feb. 19, 2011.

McGraw, 46, of Hendersonville, was arrested four days later.

Mintz died of a gunshot wound to the head and was found at the lodge on the morning of Feb. 19, 2011, according to documents filed at the Polk County Courthouse.
Polk County has held few trials over the last few decades, with most murder charges ending in plea agreements.

The last murder case in Polk County did not involve a trial and was for the murder of Jay Clark, V, which occurred in Columbus in January 2006.

Trent Allen Miller pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in 2009 to 13 to 16.5 years with credit for more than three years of time served while awaiting trial. Clark’s sister, Ida Hays Clark pled guilty in 2010 to conspiracy to commit voluntary manslaughter, felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, possession of a stolen vehicle and solicitation to commit voluntary manslaughter. Hays Clark’s sentence was suspended for her to serve six months of intensive probation, 42 months of regular probation, one year at a rehabilitation facility and a $500 fine.

The last murder trial held in Polk County occurred in 2003 against James Junior Cummings for the murder of his half-sister, Rebecca Smith Cummings. James Cummings was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 18 to 22.5 years in prison for second-degree murder and 10 to 12 months in prison for felonious larceny, according to court records.

Another trial was held in Polk County for the 1990 murder of Paul Frederick Acker. James Edward Jaynes was found guilty of first-degree murder in April 1992. The jury recommended the death penalty and sentenced Jaynes to another 160 years in prison for the other offenses.