unsolved murders in spartanburg, sc

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The murders remain unsolved. In 2009, Tom Lucas, who was President of Spartanburg Crime Stoppers at the time, and father of Brian Lucas, who was murdered along with 3 co-workers in 2003, brought the idea of Unsolved Homicide and Missing Persons playing cards into SC. And there were even more damning clues: On the last day of his life, Brian Lucas was looking at a new house, apparently without his wife's knowledge. In addition, Kohlhepp kidnapped at least one woman, raped another, and claims to have killed many more. Hes gone to prisons to talk to people who may have information. Police knew that prison chatter wasnt necessarily solid, but when Harris identified a mug shot of Quinn from a photo array as the man she saw jump from the shop window they had a reason to be more confident. Name: Date: Victims: Location : A: Sylvester Lewis ADAMS October 17, 1979: 1: South Carolina, USA: Quincy Javon ALLEN July-August 2002: 4: South Carolina, USA : John . Jonathan Vick, the son of Mary Ann Vick, planned to visit Dana the night she died, according to Pace. Could he have committed the crime or hired someone else to carry it out? This book is a protest and an anniversary marker, written 63 years after the killing night. In other cases, they may no longer be afraid the killer will come after them. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. If you have any information on the "cold" or unsolved murder cases listed below, or any unsolved murder, please call us at (803) 576-3000. Everyone is urged to participate in the program and is encouraged to develop the idea in their city and or state. Map Browse By State. Six people were shot and two were killed during the incident and standoff. But whoever that was was believed to have been the shooter.". Her death is still unsolved, and 7 News spoke with her family about why they need your help. Mary Johnson, 77; her husband, Thomas Johnson, 81; and her son David Johnson, 43, were found stabbed to death in 1993. The suspect was arrested and charged with the death of Charles Foster. These lists of unsolved murders include notable cases where victims were murdered in unknown circumstances. She was working as a waitress at the Peach Blossom restaurant and taking classes at Spartanburg Community College. It might take luck to solve some, but luck can be generated by hard work, Gary said. Mary Johnson, 77; her husband, Thomas Johnson, 81; and her son David Johnson, 43, were all found stabbed to death at their home at 270 Cedar St. in Clifton on Jan. 9, 1993.On Friday, Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright held a news conference to discuss the case and announced a reward. Beverly, also in the back, appears to have been ambushed while stepping out of the bathroom. "At that point in time the lead detective said to me 'We now have two DNA tests that show that he's not the father of your baby,'" said Melissa. Prior to police arrival, the homeowner and others asked the unknown male to leave the property a second time. Sometimes, a case is solved, often with the help of forensic science. It is believed that the subjects were attempting to rob his neighbor's apartment. She also said hed threatened her as they drove past Danas shop. He was transported by ambulance to Spartanburg Medical Center to be treated for his injuries. South Carolina. That has fallen to less than 45 percent today. Spartanburg, SC 29303. Melissa was adamant that police had it all wrong. When they opened the door, they discovered Johnson, 77, her husband Thomas, 81, and their 43-year-old son, David, dead from multiple stabbings. Featuring cold cases throughout the state of SC. The encounter left her shaken, but she was able to give investigators details needed to create a composite sketch to be released. Gary said he keeps up with the advances in crime scene technology. A forensics team processed the crime scene for fingerprints, hair samples, and body fluids. Investigators combed the house and surrounding area, looking for clues. (and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act But there were signs of a struggle, as all three suffered broken ribs,Richard Seay, then-chief investigator with the Coroner's Office, said at the time. Unsolved: On Nov. 16, officers responded to 101 E. Wood St. in reference to a person suffering from an assault. But when it came to mechanic Chris Sherbert, one of the newest employees at Superbikes Motorsports, rumors of a possible drug connection began to swirl. "They won't tell us nothing," Elizabeth Johnson in April 1993 said of investigators. THE $10,000 WILL GO TO ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST. Sheriff Chuck Wright He was shot. Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal. I know there are people out there who know about these cases.. housing. Fisher said recent developments in DNA testing and the use of lasers to lift fingerprints Johnson could help solve old crimes. T. he witness saidthe Vick vehicle was not a perfect match with the one hed seen, though. Columbia with 29. But who knows, maybe in time they'll solve it.". Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock Steven Fisher, 20, and his girlfriend Melisa Gregory, 17, were bludgeoned to death on a ranch northwest of Newton, Iowa, in 1983. Netflix's rebooted version of Unsolved Mysteries is already on the path of, ahem, solving one of its more vexing cases. Police hurried to the salon, where they found a woman who appeared to have been strangled with a duffel bag strap and was left hanging from a hot water heater. Earlier this month, Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Kevin Bobo said the cold case investigator was aware of the case, but did not provide any update. These cases are still open and are being investigated by detectives from the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office. Among those shot were two employees with Spartanburg Water, one employee with Spectrum (Perry McIntyre, deceased), a Spartanburg County Sheriffs deputy and the suspect, Shannon Earl Smith, who was killed during the gunfire exchange with law enforcement. 2023 www.goupstate.com. They got into a fight with people in another car. Save Article. You just learn how to live with it, so this is kind of my way of living with it., To learn more about the case, watch In Ice Cold Blood, airing. "I was one of probably the second or third or maybe fourth to get there. Mechanic Chris Sherbert's body is found in the back of the shop, bent over as though he were working on a bike. Thats not my baby. Long story short, Brian ended up saying to her, 'This is my mother, I want you to treat her with respect,' and it started to become a confrontation," said Lorraine. The Herald-Journal has filed Freedom of Information Act requests related to this incident with each of these agencies. Spartanburg ( Photos) Camden ( Photos) The city with highest murder rate in South Carolina? Call my attorney. Days after the brutal killing, Vick, then 17, threatened his life, Pace said, so he kept his mouth shut. This case was ruled as a justifiable homicide. "Strangely enough Brian was looking at a home without any knowledge from his wife," said Lorraine Lucas. Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. [Spartanburg City] On July 19, 2001, Duane Trout Brock (W/M - 37) was shot while at the intersection of Ridge and Vernon Streets in Spartanburg, South Carolina. ", More: Gunshot deaths, reports down in Spartanburg after violent summer; residents push forward. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. Murder That would be Abbeville with 179.4 murders per 100,000 people. DNA has enabled police to solve cases that are decades old. WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF ADN TECHNOLOGY, DEPUTIES SAY THEY HAVE EVIDENCE BEING EXAMINEDY B SLED THAT WILL GIVE NEW INFORMATION ON THIS CASE. "They don't know who that individual is. ", "Mary was one of the most Godly women I've ever known," Moore said in the days that followed the tragedy. They were very serious and they said 'We've had something come up and we need to talk to you about it,' I said OK, and they said to me, 'You were here about a month ago, you changed a diaper here at the sheriff's office, and we sent it off and compared it to the blood from the crime scene, and your son's DNA does not match up with his father's.'". The suspect was identified as an occupant of the home and lived with the victim (possibly a roommate). Each Internet browser has a different method of accessing these keys: Please note: Internet Explorer users may also need to hit the enter key to activate a link. I cant say he didnt do it by any means, the investigator said. Privacy Policy | The victims of the so-called "Whitechapel Murders" Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly all had their throats slashed, and most of them had. In Spartanburg you have a 1 in 13 chance of becoming a victim of crime. On August 9, 1976, two unidentified homicide victims, later nicknamed . The unknown vehicle was believed to be a blue 1986 - 1989 Oldsmobile "There was a red car that was seen driving to the bank on the frontage road at about 1:24 p.m.," said Greer Police Captain Matt Hamby. (The US average is 22.7) Spartanburg property crime is 90.2. You can call Investigator Diane Lestage at (864) 503-4556. On July 1, officers responded to 225 Amelia St. in reference to a shooting at Cleveland Park. 8045 Howard St. Spartanburg, SC 29303 Spartanburg Sheriff Unsolved Homicides These cases are still open and are being investigated by detectives from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. The driver of the motorcycle was killed and a female passenger was severely injured. They recall seeing a man acting strangely. At this time, police can't say for sure in either case. 4 min read Mary, Thomas and son David Johnson were found stabbed to death in the bedroom of their Cedar Street home in Clifton in early 1993. A red vehicle was seen driving away from the bank three minutes later after the incident occurred. More than a year after the shootings, sometime after the birth of Melissa Ponder's son, Scotty Junior, Melissa Ponder was summoned to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Department. If proof comes out that you did, wherever you're at, I'll come and get you and bring you back myself.'". But then, Eb and Maggie Barnes interrupted, and all three were killed. He killed himself two years after the Greer incident during a police pursuit. The four-day trial began in November 2006. It was a Saturday in January 1993 when Mary Johnson failed to show up for a hair appointment. Investigators were acutely aware of the time, too. The jury deliberated for less than 20 minutesbefore returning with a guilty verdict ofall counts:murder, criminal sexual conduct, and kidnapping. [1] Early life [ edit] And no arrests were made. When human remains are found and the identity of the deceased person is unknown, this unit provides artistic renderings of what the victim/person may have looked like in life. In many of these cases, there were witnesses, but they may not be willing to share the needed information for the investigators to prosecute cases. On Aug. 28, around 4:20 a.m., officers responded to 389 Oliver St. in reference to a shooting incident. The problem, law enforcement officials said, is with time, witnesses die, move away and cease to cooperate, and memories fade. Based on those details, police believe the person in the red car entered the bank to rob its lone teller, Sylvia Holtzclaw. The playing cards are distributed . The Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer The incidents occurred during the early morning hours of February 28, 2021. Isaiah Odom - DC# 23-17-003163 . Here is a brief look at each homicide case in 2021, as provided by the Spartanburg Police Department: On Jan. 15, officers responded to 688 Asheville Highway in reference to a shooting. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The fire probably destroyed some evidence, but not all. Thats not Crystal.'. 2023 Spartanburg Sheriff. Missing front bumper strip and turn signal "He was saying that he was at the shop, he saw a person who had on a leather coat," said Lorraine Lucas, Brian Lucas's mother. Her death is still unsolved, and 7 News spoke with her family about. In one case, the suspect died five years later, but the case is still open. "I don't want to talk negative about anybody that got murdered, but Chris was supposed to go to court the next Monday," said Terry Guy, Scott Ponder's stepfather. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, CONTACT INVESTIGATORS. Date of Death: October 25, 2011 Location: 15 Spartanburg Court, Apt. On Sept. 12, Hinson was riding around with some others in a car. Bradshaw's murder is one of 40 unsolved homicide cases for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. The victim, Ellen Anderson, and her deceased husband, Harlan Anderson, the suspect, were found in the residence. When the victim in a homicide is married, those are standard questions. On July 8, officers responded to 348 Winsmith Ave. in reference to a welfare check. A decade after the murder, they learned that Vicks DNA matched the rape kit evidence. There have been four decks produced. How do you go on with your life? The victim, who had bruises on her body, was suspended an inch or so above the floor. Nothing was missing and there was no evidence of a sexual assault, he said. There were approximately 17,721 homicides in South Carolina between 1980 and 2019, according to the Project: Cold Case website for unsolved homicide statistics. May 22, 2017. Contact Bob Montgomery at [email protected], Gunshot deaths, reports down in Spartanburg after violent summer; residents push forward. Meanwhile, 28 years after the Clifton triple-murder, some people who were initiallyinterviewed by the Herald-Journal have died, and others could not be reached for comment. Thats how reprehensible we think you are.. Thats the jury's way of sending a message, authorities told In Ice Cold Blood. Its less than the time it takes to watch a sitcom. An electronic billboard about the case and the new reward is also now up next to the Sub Station on East Main Street in Spartanburg. Investigators finally got a potential lead: atip from an inmate who said his cellmate, Russell Quinn, carried a picture of Dana Satterfield and said he was involved in the crime. She was approx 30to 40 years old 5"2 , approx 130 pounds , black hair and brown eyes. (Spinx Station), officers responded to Concord Avenue and Norris Street. Thats where the investigation into the brutal murder stayed for a decade. He died laterat the hospital. Spartanburg is safer than 1% of the cities in the United States. Officials said the realization came after gunfire erupted along Vista Drive in Moore, southwest of Spartanburg. Cold Case deck cards produced in 2015 for distribution in the SC Department of Corrections. But we do need help.. On Cold Justice, Kelly Siegler and Yolanda McClary travel to South Carolina to investigate the 28-year-old unsolved double homicide of Eric and Doris Ferguson. A double homicide and suicide was considered at first, but then ruled out. Detectives turned their attention to a witness report ofseeing a white and blue vehicle in the area that raised a red flag. "I said 'We worked hard for that baby, we had to have medical procedures to have this baby, I know he's the father of my baby,'" said Melissa. "He was very close to the shop looking at a home with a friend of his who was a realtor, when he received a phone call from Scott," said Lorraine. The charges against Hampton was dropped due to lack of evidence. No ID or clothing was found at the scene. BACK IN 1993, THOMAS AND MARY JOHNSON AND EITHR SON VIDDA WHERE KILLED IN THEIR HOME. THAT NUMBER IS LISTED ON Y. Sheriff Chuck Wright told the media human remains were uncovered in one of the two places that Kohlhepp pointed out as grave sites. He said the family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the prosecution of the person responsible for this crime. And of course, we have our legendary tale of the "swamp man." The four-day trial began in November 2006. |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville, Junior League of Greenville now recruiting, Hoop dreams: A history of womens basketball in the Upstate, Celebration of life for Greenvilles Bo Matheny to be held March 6, Jerome Jerry Richardson, Carolina Panthers founder and Wofford College alum, dies at 86, Weekly Dish: Biscuits, burgers and goodbyes, Glimpses of Greenville: Sullivan Hardware served Greenville for generations, International African American Museum to open in Charleston this June, Day in the Life: Line Service Technician GSP, Best Buddies fosters friendship and much more. In the days, weeks and months that followed, no motive could be determined. "They actually told Melissa that Scott wasn't the father of the baby -- that Brian was," said Terry Guy. The unknown vehicle was believed to be a blue 1986 - 1989 Oldsmobile Hospital employees informed police that the victim, Patrick Dirk Thomas, was dropped off by an unknown subject in a personally owned vehicle. Huddled in a back room, police find Sylvia Holtzclaw, Eb and Maggie shot to death. But therewere also four incidents involving five deaths resulting from gunshots and blunt traumathat have not been solved. Spartanburg Police Department indicates eight homicides resulting in 11deaths in 2021 have been solved, according to Police Maj. Art Littlejohn. 2. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The evidence was compelling, but investigators needed a written statement from Pace as well as Vicks DNA sample to advance their case. Bill Coffey was sheriff at the time. When officers arrived, they discovered four victims suffering from gunshot wounds. But in 2005, the case broke wide open, thanks to a chance encounter between Dana's then-18-year-old daughter and Michael Pace, a local resident who'd harbored a dark secret for years. The 28-year-old mother had been separated from her husband for several months and had recently purchased a home on Northbrook Street off Highway 9 in Boiling Springs. They managed to secure both. . 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. On July 23, around 9:03 p.m., officers responded to 151 Palisade St.in reference to a drive-by shooting. Those hopes were dashed, though, when Quinns DNA didnt match the rape kit evidence. The victim died later at the hospital of his injuries. Like all of the cold cases that fill the file cabinets on one and a half walls in his office, Gary said the killer may be somewhere in a two-inch binder full of notes. Days after the brutal killing, Vick, then 17, threatened his life, Pace said, so he kept his mouth shut. But it wasn't that long ago that this was the home of Superbike Motorsports, a high-performance motorcycle shop owned by Scott Ponder. Another son was killed in a car accident 10 years earlier. But as similarly brutal as both murder scenes were, they don't believe the two crimes are connected. The violence of the attack made it seem personal, Rick Gregory, a Spartanburg County Solicitors Office investigator,told, During an interview, she nervously explained that she came face to face. Theres also a new billboard up in Boiling Springs, with Bradshaws face and name, not far from where she lived. Around 6:30 PM, Diane Harris, a door-to-door saleswoman, stopped by the salon. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "We continue to receive tips through social media. 27 Comments. Pedestrian Killed in Hit and Run Accident. "They actually told her they had proof," said Terry Guy. Myrtle Styles Hembree, an 11 year old girl, was raped and brutally murdered in July 1947 in the small community of Una near Spartanburg, SC. Fear Spreads In Community After Dana Satterfields Murder. Concerned, the hairdresser called Johnson's daughter-in-law, and the two went to her two-story Clifton home on Cedar Street to check on her. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office was called inbecause the Spartanburg Police Department, Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, and the S.C. Law Enforcement Division were all involved in the case. Today, the case remains. Earlier this month, Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt.. Could these gruesome murders be connected to an eerily similar triple homicide that happened just five months before in a neighboring town? SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) - Thursday, June 3rd, marked the 14th anniversary of a Spartanburg County woman's murder. Detectives are seeking information from witnesses and/or from anyone who may have knowledge about these cases. At least a dozen people have been interviewed, but theres one man with whom Gary really wants to talk. Kennedy is hopeful this will help, as she wants her family to finally have some peace. Police identified the couple, though officially they have only been treated as witnesses, and have never been connected to the crime. Ad Choices. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. We Inform. On the morning of Nov. 6, 2003, someone walked into a motorcycle dealership called Superbike Motorsports in the small town of Chesnee, South Carolina, and shot the owner, his mother and two employees in the head. Open or Unsolved Transgender Homicides; 2023 Police then talkedto Danas husband, Mike, who downplayed stories that the couples marriage was in trouble. Her son was only 7 years old when she died. Mary Johnson, 77; her husband, Thomas . In 1963, the homicide clearance rate nationwide was 91 percent. Sign up to receive breaking True Crime Daily news, exclusive stories and behind-the-scenes info. Seven minutes, four lives, one gun. "They did tell me that the blood had been mislabeled because Brian's body and Scott's body were next to each other at the crime scene and they had just put the wrong name on the blood vial," said Melissa. Todd Christopher Kohlhepp ( n Sampsell; born March 7, 1971) is an American serial killer, sex offender, and mass murderer convicted of murdering seven people in South Carolina between 2003 and 2016. "We are continuing to work on the unsolved homicides, and as always we are seeking information from the public," he said. Theories abound as to who really killed four people that November day. "Except Brian's is out here closest to the sidewalk near the door there. I said, Oh no, thats not my Crystal. The jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes. among 46 cases in Spartanburg County dating back to 1970. Mahendrabhai Omar Patel Age. When officers arrived, they discovered a male, Damion Henderson, lying on the floor inside of the home. In fact, the second test confirmed that the father of Melissa's child was actually Brian Lucas, the man whose body was found just a few feet away from Scott's. Then more than a year after the murders, detectives start looking into a new angle. But after supplying a solid alibi and passing a polygraph test, he was cleared as a suspect. Bradshaws estranged husband and her boyfriend have been cleared. The shooter has not been located and the case is unsolved. He may have wanted to leave because he had warrants on him. Witnesses told police that the victim was speaking with another male when shots were fired. CLIFTON, S.C. . "And they pulled me in a room and shut the door. After the first day or two, it gets more difficult, Gary said. Cold cases and unsolved crimes in Horry County, SC. He searches through the notes of other investigators who have worked the cases and he tries to think of other ways to get evidence tested. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Motorcyclist Killed in Collision at Hwy 221 and South Ave. The harder we work for these cases, and the more persistent we are with these cases, and the more prayer thats put into them, we can solve them, Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said. Police hurried to the salon, where they found a woman who appeared to have been strangled with a duffel bag strap and was left hanging from a hot water heater. June 7, 2021: Alex Murdaugh, 53, calls 911 and reports he found his wife Margaret, 52, and son Paul, then 22, shot dead outside of their home in Islandton, a small community about an hour north of. All rights reserved. But there were also four incidents involving five deaths resulting from gunshots and blunt trauma that have not been solved. "From what I gathered, he was looking at a lot of time, and the people that he was with, you know, did they think he was going to turn state's evidence and tell on them? 'It was chaos': Neighbors describe tense Spartanburg standoff scene near Cleveland Park. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Thursday, June 3rd, marked the 14th anniversary of a Spartanburg County womans murder. Chris was the first one shot.". In the meantime, investigators interviewed Harris. Name. This site contains a number of keyboard shortcuts, called "accesskeys," to assist in navigating. Until then, she said shell be hanging on to memories.