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. Wright said the killer was neighbor Roger Wayne Switzer, who died of a heart attack in 2008. Anyone with information to please contact Investigator Diane Lestage. The witness ran for help and asked people in a nearby house to call 911. When the victim in a homicide is married, those are standard questions. DNA has enabled police to solve cases that are decades old. In some of the cases, detectives think they know who did it, but dont have enough evidence to make an arrest and successfully prosecute the case in court, Gary said. Nothing was missing and there was no evidence of a sexual assault, he said. Four of George and Jennie Sodder's nine children managed to get out when their house burned down in 1945, the other five were never found, either alive or dead. Thats not my baby. Call my attorney. We never do.". David Moore described the Clifton community as "close-knit people. Gun violence affecting kids: Why we need to talk about gun violence affecting kids. Together as a community, we can bring justice for this family.". But therewere also four incidents involving five deaths resulting from gunshots and blunt traumathat have not been solved. 6 talking about this. This case was ruled as a murder-suicide. Mechanic Chris Sherbert's body is found in the back of the shop, bent over as though he were working on a bike. "I can say they all died within a short period of time of each other and that they were stabbed with a knife," he said at the time. Adding to the tragedy, Melissa and other family members now fear all the time authorities spent focusing on her may have let the real killer slip through the cracks, a killer who could very well strike again. Is your conscious turned off?. 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. "They actually told Melissa that Scott wasn't the father of the baby -- that Brian was," said Terry Guy. He said the family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the prosecution of the person responsible for this crime. "What he said was that they compared my husband's DNA to his mother's DNA, which was all gathered at the crime scene, and they did not match up," said Melissa. . At least a dozen people have been interviewed, but theres one man with whom Gary really wants to talk. Spartanburg crime rates are 234% higher than the national average. Open or Unsolved Transgender Homicides; 2023 Her contact number is 864-503-4556, and her email address is dlestage@spartanburgcounty.org. "The sheriff's office contacted one of the last customers who left the store that day," said reporter Daniel Gross. Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul (inset) were shot and killed at Moselle. While the city with highest number of murders period? Quadrupel Murders in Chesnee, SC 11/6/2003 A very Hot Case, need your help. "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. Mary Johnson, 77; her husband, Thomas . Then more than a year after the murders, detectives start looking into a new angle. This case is unsolved. Isaiah Odom - DC# 23-17-003163 . "I think the sheriff's department let the trail get very cold messing with us. South Carolina. |, 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. BACK IN 1993, THOMAS AND MARY JOHNSON AND EITHR SON VIDDA WHERE KILLED IN THEIR HOME. In addition, Kohlhepp kidnapped at least one woman, raped another, and claims to have killed many more. Police identified the couple, though officially they have only been treated as witnesses, and have never been connected to the crime. The killer, meanwhile, hid in plain sight for years. On Oct. 1, 2021, the Spartanburg County Coroners Office gave notice that the victim died at Spartanburg Medical Center around 10:58 p.m. US 221 in the slow lane and was struck by an unknown vehicle pulling out of South WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF ADN TECHNOLOGY, DEPUTIES SAY THEY HAVE EVIDENCE BEING EXAMINEDY B SLED THAT WILL GIVE NEW INFORMATION ON THIS CASE. 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. 11-06-03 Superbike Motorsports Chesnee, S.C. Unsolved for 3 years, 3 months and 12 days Victims: Scott Ponder, Brian Lucas, Beverly Guy and Christopher Sherbert . planned to visit Dana the night she died, according to Pace. According to the witness, that was only moments before the shooting. I dont feel like giving up on any of the cases. Callers may remain anonymous. The victim was shot several times in his legs and upper body. He killed himself two years after the Greer incident during a police pursuit. 27 Comments. On Dec. 9, officers responded to 109 Brandywine Lane in reference to a murder/suicide. Fisher said recent developments in DNA testing and the use of lasers to lift fingerprints Johnson could help solve old crimes. Seven minutes later Noel stumbled upon four people murdered in cold blood. May 22, 2017. On Aug. 28, around 4:20 a.m., officers responded to 389 Oliver St. in reference to a shooting incident. (and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act Thats where the investigation into the brutal murder stayed for a decade. 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. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, CONTACT INVESTIGATORS. Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com. Everyone is urged to participate in the program and is encouraged to develop the idea in their city and or state. But whoever that was was believed to have been the shooter.". The crime became known as "The Superbike Murders" and it seemed as senseless as it was cold-blooded. The murders remain unsolved. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/us/16land.html?emc=eta1, http://www.crimeinfo.net/CSW/688/Pictures/SC_Face.PDF. They say in the 1960s and 1970s about 70 percent of victims and murderers knew each other. Detectives turned their attention to a witness report ofseeing a white and blue vehicle in the area that raised a red flag. Kennedy is hopeful this will help, as she wants her family to finally have some peace. On April 26, 1970, 11-year-old Terrence "Terry" Bowers was found deceased, suffering from multiple stab wounds while on a Boy Scout camping trip. That would be Abbeville with 179.4 murders per 100,000 people. Both victims, Ronald Glenn and Matthew Booker Jr., suffered from blunt force trauma to the head and face. The victim died later at the hospital of his injuries. Two teenagers, Joshua. Days after the brutal killing, Vick, then 17, threatened his life, Pace said, so he kept his mouth shut. But Mr. Murdaugh, 53, was for years a well-connected player in the clubby South Carolina legal world; the family law firm, based in the tiny city of Hampton, has long been considered a powerhouse . Login; . The four-day trial began in November 2006. Why didnt you come and do it to me, Kennedy said. Saturday, February 3, 2007. "We are continuing to work on the unsolved homicides, and as always we are seeking information from the public," he said. South Carolina Crime Stoppers View Source Square with arrow pointing upper right. Then on June 3, 2007, someone killed her and set the house on fire to try to cover up the crime. Larry James Smith, 44, was brutally beaten with a hammer on Dec. 3, 1987, and died of his injuries in 1988. These cases are still open and are being investigated by detectives from the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office. Police then talkedto Danas husband, Mike, who downplayed stories that the couples marriage was in trouble. "He had looked at several different properties.". Travis Keys was stabbed to death at about 8:50 p.m. outside the Rug Mill Deli, in the Jackson Street strip mall in Freehold Borough, on Feb. 10, 2012. How do you eat? housing. Could these gruesome murders be connected to an eerily similar triple homicide that happened just five months before in a neighboring town? During an interview, she nervously explained that she came face to facewith the man for just a second. A friend of Darrell Broussard, one of the unsolved murder . housing. I cant say he did it. Gary said none of Bradshaws customers at work are the focus of the investigation. [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. The encounter left her shaken, but she was able to give investigators details needed to create a composite sketch to be released. "We are continuing to work on the unsolved . A double homicide and suicide was considered at first, but then ruled out. They also shared a sketch of a person of interest who was reportedly seen on Bradshaws carport the night of her murder. Sheriff Chuck Wright Apple users with Spaces enabled may need to use the accesskey for Skip to the main navigation (A); then, TAB through the navigation and press "enter" to activate a link. 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. I guess its knowing what she was trying to do to better her life for herself and her child. "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. Coroner's Case Number C-98-8289 ( NamUs Number UP8962) On May 13, 1998 the nude body of an unidentified female of Asian descent was found on the frontage road adjacent to the south bound lane of I- 85 ( Casual Dr). A South Carolina man accused of holding a woman chained inside a storage container was denied bond Sunday after investigators say he also confessed to an unsolved quadruple murder that. She was approx 30to 40 years old 5"2 , approx 130 pounds , black hair and brown eyes. Police interviewedVicks former girlfriend, who spoke of his violent streak. A couple hours later, Harris returned to the shop area, where she waited for her ride. spartanburg, s.c. -- A South Carolina man suspected of being a serial killer was formally charged with three additional counts of murder Monday for bodies found buried on his land. I turned on the news and there was Crystals house burning, she said. Was one of the most violent murders in South Carolina history the result of a love triangle gone wrong? Responding at that time, Coffey confirmed that the Johnsons were interviewed at length. Lori Reaves Richardson, Charleston/Columbia, SC vtengr4047/Flickr All four victims were transported by ambulance to Spartanburg Medical Center to be treated for their injuries. He said the family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the prosecution of the person responsible for this crime. A 17-year-old male, Elijah Briggs, was found on the ground near the bus stop. Anyone with information to please contact Investigator Diane Lestage. The only surviving son was Keith Johnson, who declined to be interviewed by a reporter the day after the gruesome discovery. Its hard for people to tell on friends and loved ones. Ad Choices. Investigators combed the house and surrounding area, looking for clues. They scoured Roebuck for the vehicle and turned up a possible match: Mary Ann Vick, one of Dana's customers, had a similar car. Her contact number is 864-503-4556, and her email address is dlestage@spartanburgcounty.org. Featuring cold cases throughout the state of SC. On July 23, around 9:03 p.m., officers responded to 151 Palisade St.in reference to a drive-by shooting. Mary Johnson, 77; her husband, Thomas Johnson, 81; and her son David Johnson, 43, were found stabbed to death in 1993. I don't have a bit of faith in them. In some cases, people may be ready to tell what they know to get it off their chests, he said. Was Wright the perpetrator of the Blue Ridge Bank murders, and could he have also gunned down four people at Superbike Motorsports just five months later? 5C Albert Adams, known as "New York" in the Greenline community, was shot and killed on the front porch of his apartment. Authorities have charged Kohlhepp, 45, with four counts of. Since 2003, the killings of four people at a motorcycle shop in Chesnee, S.C., had remained unsolved. Gary said he keeps up with the advances in crime scene technology. But we do need help.. You put them in your heart and hold them there, and you know what kind of person she was, and you hold on to your memories and you never let them go, she said. Murder On July 1, officers responded to 225 Amelia St. in reference to a shooting at Cleveland Park. They got into a fight with people in another car. Earlier this month, Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt.. At the time, Bradshaw was working at the Peach Blossom Diner nearby. We Inspire. But some of the comments he made indicated he may have known Bradshaw was inside, the investigator said. Investigators said Bradshaw was brutally beaten. Privacy Policy | According to the witnesses, the unknown male refused to leave and approached the front door with his hands in his pocket. The four-day trial began in November 2006. Why my child? She had been picking blackberries with her parents, went to a nearby store, and was later found beaten to a pulp in a closet of an abandoned house. Twenty-eight years later, the triple homicide remains unsolved, among 46 cases in Spartanburg County dating back to 1970. Not only that, but they know who did it: 39-year-old career criminal Emmerson Wright. Unsolved: On Nov. 16, officers responded to 101 E. Wood St. in reference to a person suffering from an assault. A high-profile murder mystery remains unsolved in Chesnee, South Carolina: Four people massacred in a motorsports shop in the middle of the day. 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. 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. The playing cards are distributed in all of SC 28 Correction Facilities as well as local jails and detention centers. You just learn how to live with it, so this is kind of my way of living with it.. Today, the building stands vacant, a makeshift mausoleum in an empty lot in Chesnee, South Carolina. Hes now 21 and, still, no one has been arrested for his mothers murder. Map Browse By State. Spartanburg is safer than 1% of the cities in the United States. In the meantime, investigators interviewed Harris. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. All rights reserved. T. he witness saidthe Vick vehicle was not a perfect match with the one hed seen, though. The fire was contained in the roof, which fell in. (The US average is 22.7) Spartanburg property crime is 90.2. When they opened the door, they discovered Johnson, 77, her husband Thomas, 81, and their 43-year-old son, David, dead from multiple stabbings. Bond for the weapons charge was set at $3,500 on Sunday. Evidence was sent to the lab for analysis. 2023 www.goupstate.com. The elder Johnsons were retired from Clifton Mill Number Two. Name. The charges were upgraded later. But as similarly brutal as both murder scenes were, they don't believe the two crimes are connected. Blood stains were found in the kitchen, in the den around the telephone, and on a chair, according to Seay. Roebuck is a small town and the officer recognized the lifeless victim as Dana Satterfield. Netflix's rebooted version of Unsolved Mysteries is already on the path of, ahem, solving one of its more vexing cases. Related Stories From YourTango: . Herald-Journal 0:06 1:07 Spartanburg Police Department indicates eight homicides resulting in 11 deaths in 2021 have been solved, according to Police Maj. Art Littlejohn. 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. When officers arrived, they discovered four victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Sheriff Chuck Wright told the media human remains were uncovered in one of the two places that Kohlhepp pointed out as grave sites. On Aug.21, around 9:32 p.m., officersresponded to 116 James H. Young St.in reference to a breaking and entering with shots being fired. "[Scott's wife] Melissa was newly pregnant, and after the baby was born they did do a DNA test on a diaper they took from there," said Lorraine. Police found another body Sunday buried at Kohlhepp's property where a woman was found chained in a metal container last week, Spartanburg County officials said. Missing front bumper strip and turn signal "I was one of probably the second or third or maybe fourth to get there. This shooting was ruled as a justifiable homicide. "They don't know who that individual is. She was working as a waitress at the Peach Blossom restaurant and taking classes at Spartanburg Community College. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Year over year crime in Spartanburg has increased by 2%. Spartanburg County Sheriff's Department hide caption toggle caption Whatever the motive, this horrific case still remains unsolved and police need the public's help bringing the killer to justice. Robbery was deemed doubtful because the house was not ransacked and there was no forced entry, former Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Little said at the time. And no arrests were made. The groups were chasing each other and Hinson got out of his car at the intersection of Asheville Highway and California Avenue to talk to the other group. The playing cards are distributed . 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. Owner Scott Ponder, Ponder's mother Beverly Guy, service manager Brian Lucas and mechanic Chris Sherbert were all found fatally shot on November 6, 2003. Missing Persons my Neighborhood alarm registration File a report 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 . 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. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal. 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. Pedestrian Killed in Hit and Run Accident. Their bodies were found on the bed in a downstairs bedroom where all three slept, according to a Herald-Journal story. Officers discovered the victim was shot once. We Connect. In Greer, South Carolina, on May 16, 2003, just five months before the Superbike Motorsports murders, sometime around 1:30 p.m., local couple Eb and Maggie Barnes entered the Blue Ridge Savings Bank in Greer. If you have any information about this caseno matter how big or smallyoure encouraged to contact the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office. In other cases, they may no longer be afraid the killer will come after them. In 1990, sadly, her remains were found by a deer hunter. "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. White Sr. Blvd. There have been four decks produced. Those hopes were dashed, though, when Quinns DNA didnt match the rape kit evidence. Key findings. "There are some people that have direct knowledge but whatever information you have, please call to report what you know about this case. On July 23, around 9:03 p.m., officers responded to 151 Palisade St. On Sept. 5, around 9:50 p.m., officers responded to 601 Farley Ave. Why we need to talk about gun violence affecting kids. The suspect was arrested a few days later based on investigative findings. Fear Spreads In Community After Dana Satterfields Murder. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. While investigators awaited results of the rape kit sent to the crime lab for processing, they spent months painstakingly interviewing Danas customers. The oldest case Gary is working on dates back to 1970. The 25-year-old store clerk child was gunned down in an overnight robbery. He wasnt the original investigator, but hes been working on it since Day 2. The Unsolved Quadruple Murder at Superbike Motorsports in Chesnee REDUX. After a certain window, homicides are extremely difficult to solve,Trey Gowdy, Spartanburg County Solicitors Office former prosecutor, explained to producers. And was someone willing to kill because of it? But there were also four. Delta 88. Authorities, after all, had already connected Little to the September 1978 murder of 19-year . 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. The more time that passes after the murder, the less likely the case will be solved. The suspect, Franklin Loden, was arrested later and charged with assault and battery high and aggravated. The shooter has not been located and the case is unsolved. On July 1, officers responded to 225 Amelia St. Waiting for your permission to load facebook comments. The person left before officials could talk to him, investigators said. Once on scene, officers discovered several people at the location and a male, Daniel Pilgram, lying on the front porch suffering from gunshot wounds. The man charged with abducting an Anderson woman and keeping her chained in a metal storage shed on his property has implicated himself in a 13-year-old unsolved murder of four at a Chesnee . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Criminal justice officials say one reason fewer cases nationwide are being solved is because of an increase in drug-related and gang-related murders. 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. "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? "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. The evidence was compelling, but investigators needed a written statement from Pace as well as Vicks DNA sample to advance their case. Spartanburg County deputies released this flier of a man investigators want to talk to about the unsolved killings of four people on the Superbike Motorsports motorcycle shop in Chesnee, S.C., in . The witness ran for help and asked people in a nearby house to call 911. I know there are people out there who know about these cases.. (and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act Two of the victims, Travoiris Antoine Gentry and Jaquante Donnell Burris, died later. Lets Eat at Waynes Lunchbox in Spindale, N.C. 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The victim, who had bruises on her body, was suspended an inch or so above the floor. They scoured Roebuck for the vehicle and turned up a possible match: Mary Ann Vick, one of Dana's customers, had a similar car.