unsolved murders in greenwood, sc
She had one sister, named Renee, and the three lived in an apartment complex just north of Greenwood, South Carolina. The crime spree began in July 1995 and carried on until August of 1996. Cold cases and unsolved crimes in Greenwood, SC. Greenwood city's six unsolved homicides stay a police priority, By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ (LogOut/ Little else could be determined of the victim or how they had died, as the skull showed no signs of obvious trauma or any bullet holes. Paul Murdaugh was awaiting trial on a charge of boating under the influence causing death in the crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Between 1995 and 1996, the states of Georgia and South Carolina began investigating a series of sexual assaults that occurred along a specific interstate. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 254.8. Police were beginning to become certain that Hampton had simply been lying to them in order to obtain special privileges: such as trips outside of jail, meals, coffee, and cigarettes. He described not only his sex life - which included sex with both genders - but his prior criminal history. His mother, who lives in New York, hasn't heard anything about the case for a long time. The responding deputy ended up spending the night on the Logan familys couch, in case someone called with a ransom or if Kia herself somehow managed to communicate with them. South Carolina murderers list | Murderpedia Another witness described seeing a vehicle pull behind a nearby church and turn its lights off, then speed past heading south. This was a random act, which seems to be his technique.". It was occupied by an older white male with graying hair. Richard Martin Age. It's like a depression has set in.". BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. (WIS) - Two men died in a shooting Friday night in Batesburg-Leesville, police confirmed. There was no identification on them, but it was surmised they were traveling or 'backpacking'. The Newberry County Sheriff's Office, along with other law enforcement and volunteer agencies, conducted searches in the area where the skull had been found. Video from the area showed a car with someone hanging out of the back passenger window and firing. He had bloodstains on his clothes and was trying to tell officers something, but he didnt speak English. Immediately, investigators became convinced that the skull could have belonged to the missing Kia Logan, who had been missing from a town roughly half-an-hour away for two-and-a-half years now. Somewhere out there is someone who knows something about each one of these mysteries and it is up to us to not let them grow cold. They searched pretty exhaustively for around three weeks, unable to locate any more remains other than the skull. Unsolved Murdaugh Murders Expose Years of South Carolina Mysteries However, theyd waited to pursue their case, as they didnt want to risk activating an interstate agreement between Georgia and South Carolina, which would have required them to have brought Hampton to trial within 180 days of the charges being laid. ", "People are definitely keeping small children in. He would be sixty-five years old as of this episode's recording, and there's only a brief mention of him on the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's sex offender registry. The charges against Hampton was dropped due to lack of evidence. Those early tests were inconclusive, relying on DNA found in the skull itself in very primitive ways. Police have shared that Kias abduction was a crime of opportunity, and that Hampton did not know the young girl. A random child abduction that went "sour" - usually a byproduct of a victim choosing to fight back, or attempting to run away. Invalid password or account does not exist. "He'll get credit for time served and good behavior. It wasn't until the sister returned to the apartment complex half-an-hour later that anyone realized this eight-year old was missing. Zykevious Ramsey, 22, was shot early Tuesday morning on the steps of his apartment and later died while at the hospital. The family, to their credit, was steadfast in their conviction, wanting to to see Hampton in a court to face the charges levied against him. Murdered Paul Murdaugh reportedly had more brushes with law - New York Post Remember, this is before the trial of OJ Simpson, so DNA testing was very much in its infancy. Not only were Georgia and South Carolina preparing cases against him, but North Carolina and Florida were investigating him for similar child abductions and sexual assaults in their states. Winds light and variable. Set in the middle of Greenwood itself, the reward fund started with a $2000 donation in her name. When I drove up, and looked at that bike in the parking lot, I had a gut feeling something wasn't right and I called Riley at home. You can also contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at (803) 737-9000. Malakia Zali Logan, most commonly called by her nickname, Kia, was born on August 1st, 1979. Welldo you really need that much sleep? Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in Greenwood, South Carolina (SC): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map, Crime rate in Greenwood, South Carolina (SC). The families and friends of those slain deserve answers, and Chaudoin said he asks investigators to revisit these open cases every now and then. Rally for Greenwood unsolved murders | WSPA 7NEWS Detectives will re-interview witnesses and relatives of victims to try and find any new leads. Another description was vague, calling it simply an older model white compact or subcompact with blue interior. According to investigators, theyd had a case against him since 2000 and hed, in fact, been a suspect since 1996. They sent it off for continued testing at the University of South Carolina, where a forensic anthropologist was able to tell investigators that the skull belonged "to a six-to-eight-year-old African American.". He voluntarily provided blood and hair samples. When they searched his home, they found several photographs of children in underwear, as well as various photos of nude adults - including pictures of Hampton himself. In the past 21 years the departments digital records system goes back, there were 55 murders reported to the police. South Carolina Department of Social Services; South Carolina Dept Health & Environmental Control; . They all lived in housing close to the highway in-question, and they were all abducted from one location and led to another. The Disappearance of Nguyet Thu Wiki Phung, Case Update: Brittanee Drexels Remains Discovered After 13 Years, SuspectCharged, The Disappearances of Tina & BethanySinclair. However, one of the most interesting notes of this sketch came from a description, which noted that the suspect had a pockmarked face. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. A lot of times what you hear law enforcement say is we dont want to give a lot of details out because the case is still pending, he said. In his vehicle, police found many out-of-place items: things such as clothing, toilet paper, the marriage certificate of him and his ex-wife, etc. Police called for EMS, but Padgett looked badly injured so officers loaded him into a patrol car to drive him to the hospital. The investigation to find her had still gone nowhere truly productive, with police beginning to expand their search out of the area according to some in the police department, even out of the state. He spoke about the skull as well, stating about his communication with the Newberry County Sheriff's Office: "We were in contact with them yesterday and we will be in contact with them again today. Officers heard several shots on April 6, 2013 while at the Greenwood County Detention Center, then saw two men running up from 606 Tabor St., one of whom had been shot in the arm. South Carolina is loaded with history and ghostly tales of suspense. But that optimisim would be short-lived, as weeks began to bleed into months. However, Kia lived with her mother, Bernetta Logan Baylor, who was a teacher at a nearby middle school. Examining the world of solved and unsolved cases. It took police a while to line up the suspect description because the vehicles in-question varied based on each witness: two described the vehicle they had been abducted in as a champagne-gold Mazda, while others pointed out either a white Toyota Corolla or a white Chevy Celebrity. (LogOut/ You see, in 1981, he had been arrested and convicted for the rape of a sixteen-year old, telling interrogators that his seminal fluid had been used to convict him. DNA testing confirmed her identity. 8th Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace, who had replaced William Townes Jones in the preceding half-decade, had plenty to say about this decision. The Unraveling of the Murdaugh Dynasty: Unsolved Murders - WSJ Thats why its so important that we build that relationship with the community and we have that working relationship, he said. But there were also nude photographs of women - including images of his then-girlfriend - and a pornographic magazine named "Stroke Off Tales.". The Unraveling of the Murdaugh Dynasty: Unsolved Murders, Insurance Fraud and Missing Millions Since South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh admitted last week to trying to stage his own murder, the . One man who had met the couple stated that the man, Jacques, had told him that his father was a physician in Canada. I am criticizing the rest of us who thrive in our community yet appear apathetic. This search continued until it was too dark, but resumed the next day. DNA testing didn't match him in one of the Georgia cases. Two months into the investigation, at least one thing was crystal clear: Kia Logan may have been missing, but she most certainly wasn't going to be forgotten. Renee and their friend decided to stay at the court for a short while longer. The composite is the latest thing we have and we're trying to develop leads from that. It had grown to a total of $20,328.68. In fact, police noted that he might have been a little TOO eager at times. Her body was found seven days after the crash. Thank you! I'm thinking in terms of fifty or a hundred thousand dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible a reward made up of contributions from those who really care, in amounts affordable to them parents, concerned citizens and businesses. Police interviewed a few of Paynes friends and coworkers but didnt learn much. The authorities are opening a new investigation into an unsolved 2015 death as a result of information gleaned after two . In each crime, the suspect was described as a middle-aged white man, with some kind of gray stubble on his face and a pockmarked complexion, as well as a unique tattoo on a bicep - which some of the young victims called a "dragon," and others a "snake.". The documentation for this case included a lead sheet filed in April 2020, where an officer detailed dozens of interviews done in this case, along with tips detectives have followed up on. About two weeks earlier, Cody Hawkins was shot in an apparent drive-by shooting May 19 on Pearl Street, close to Osborne Avenue. Despite the charges being dropped in relation to Kias murder, Hampton was convicted on obstruction of justice in relation to the Richland County case and his alleged false confessions. On May 30th, over two weeks after Kia had disappeared, investigators were still optimistic. They were still investigating new avenues, but none of them led anywhere. Since that time two ponds have been drained, searches have been conducted, and a serial killer (who would have been a teenager at that time) has been interviewed all to no avail. At the time of her disappearance, Reinaldo Javier "Ray" Rivera, now a convicted serial killer, was attending the University of South Carolina. Charles Wade Hampton was born on September 21st, 1952. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The only inconsistencies in the cases were the different times and days on which the abductions occurred, as well as the fact each victim cited a different vehicle being involved. While he had previously confessed to the crime, he recanted, resulting in the rape charge being dropped due to a lack of evidence. Bernetta spent a few minutes searching the area around the apartment complex, but when she couldnt find her daughter, she called the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office to report her as missing. But, rather, because he has said some very damning things about himself and committed some criminal acts, none of which would paint him as a flattering neighbor. Stabbed When officers arrived, they found two men with gunshot wounds. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The podcast is hosted by veteran journalist Anne Emerson, along with former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon and producer One way is to make the amount of the reward really impressive and/or tempting. Hampton pleaded not guilty to the charges and immediately recanted his confession, just as hed done in previous cases. Newberry County Memorial Hospital forensic pathologist Dr. Keene Garvin reiterated this finding, stating - after preliminary testing had been conducted - that the skull was likely placed there are the body had decomposed. City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. Discuss Greenwood, South Carolina (SC) on our hugely popular South Carolina forum. Sometimes officers get tips about rumors from the community, but these vague and often unsourced allegations arent enough to give police probable cause for an arrest. 13-36901 (Murder) Police and prosecutors seemed certain at the time of this indictment - November 6th, 2002 - that Charles Hampton was responsible for the abduction and murder of Malakia Zali Logan. Unfortunately, the searches came up with no sign of Kia, or any clue as to what had happened to her. He did not live here. It is known that her friends lost track of her in the crowd so they assumed that she had a ride home and left. So, he'll be back on the street. Missing Persons my Neighborhood alarm registration File a report You will receive your first email soon. Within the year, the Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund had topped $20,000, for any information that would lead to answers for the missing eight-year old. The sun was beginning to set, and this eight-year old climbed onto her bike to head back home. In the weeks after, she would find it difficult to leave the telephone unattended, in case she missed a call from someone related to the case. As an adult, he stood about five-feet-eight-inches tall, weighing it at only 132 pounds. The Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund was established by Tuck Wooten, the Head of A.M. Tuck Inc. Pity us if we don't! Unfortunately for them, as soon as Hampton went to jail for Peeping Tom, he stopped cooperating with investigators. It all pointed to a very confusing puzzle, which police didn't know how to make sense of. South Carolina's Law Enforcement Division spokesman Hugh Munn stated about the composite drawing which the authorities had debuted the evening before: "We've done all the groundwork we can. Call CrimeStoppers 843-554-1111. Just like the details he provided: he knew some information about these locales, but not all of the minute details. But now a parent's worst fear was beginning to creep into their bones the realization that she had not been okay, that something HAD happened to her. When the police finally arrived they found all three of the victims in a utility room in the back of the bank. After a few days, the Director of Greenwoods Emergency Preparedness said the group would be suspending their involvement in the search and would wait for law enforcement to request further assistance before getting involved again. On June 22, 2007, the prosecutor announced that the charges against Hampton would be dropped, citing a lack of evidence to corroborate his prior confession. Will they ever find out what happened and who these two young people were? He was described as being between thirty-five and forty years old, with slender ad pointed facial features. The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery | Unsolved South Carolina on He openly confessed to committing several of the child abductions, providing explicit details of the subsequent sexual assaults. The DNA testing from the six sexual assaults linked them together, indicating that a single suspect was behind each of the crimes - however, none of those samples matched up with Hampton himself. Renee arrived home approximately 15 to 20 minutes later and it was discovered that Kia had not returned. Dennis Beauford, one of the first deputies to arrive at the scene, stated: "It was a pretty Sunday afternoon. She didn't want to miss any potential calls from Kia. They combed around the Georgetown Apartments for most of the night, until the lack of light eventually led to them turning it around. He also had a blotchy, pockmarked face, made worse from poison ivy exposure the year prior. Between July 1995 and August 1996, authorities in Georgia and South Carolina were investigating a string of abductions and sexual assaults of young Black children along a specific state highway. From video footage they have been able to piece together that the car was a red Oldsmobile Alero made between 1999 and 2003. Sadly, he wasn't too far off. Earlier in the day, they had been aided by helicopters provided by SLED - the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, a statewide police agency. Date of Death: October 25, 2011 Location: 15 Spartanburg Court, Apt. Unsolved Cases - City of Columbia Police Department Unsolved Cases If you can help solve any of these crimes or think that you may know something no matter how small, please contact the Violent Crimes Against Persons Unit - VCAP at: (803)545-3525. And in that time, more terrifying and intriguing mysteries would present themselves. The case surrounding Kias disappearance was initially investigated as a simple missing persons report. This was in 1996, where he plead guilty to having drilled a hole into a womens restroom at a Georgia rest stop and was sentenced to five years.