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 results were testing alongside DNA taken from Kia's parents, Bernetta and Richard, and this time, it proved consistent. But that optimisim would be short-lived, as weeks began to bleed into months. They had been playing basketball together when Malakia decided to go home. Hawkins had been standing with friends at about 3 a.m. that morning when a drive-by shooting left him hit once with a bullet that would later kill him, according to officials. Contact staff writer Damian Dominguez at 864-634-7548 or follow on twitter @IJDDOMINGUEZ. She said that she didn't actually see him, but his bedcovers were pulled up so she assumed that he was asleep. They combed around the Georgetown Apartments for most of the night, until the lack of light eventually led to them turning it around. The witness saw three young men in the car, and when officers checked near the church they found a pair of shoes that matched a sole imprint at the scene. They had suspended the searches on Tuesday afternoon, after finding nothing in the two days out there. Create a password that only you will remember. "We're looking for a medium blue utility-type van with dark tinted windows. Hampton would plead guilty to his original felony Peeping Tom charge, meaning that he would be spending the next five years in state prison. Low 44F. You never know if that tiny piece of information could flesh out the full puzzle. But, let a Carolina or a Clemson sports event take the forefront and emotions bubble over throughout the community. After this discovery, interrogators circled back around to Hampton. A clear sky. Kias case was featured on a 1990 episode of Unsolved Mysteries. The indictment against Charles Wade Hampton included crimes such as murder, kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct. Officers spoke with several witnesses who described the vehicle the shooters were in, but have been unable to identify any suspects. Date of Death: October 25, 2011 Location: 15 Spartanburg Court, Apt. This was a random act, which seems to be his technique.". He lifted his shirt and officers saw Perez had two gunshot wounds on his right side. Login; . "Reading his statement, you'd think that only the person who did that would know those details. The authorities are opening a new investigation into an unsolved 2015 death as a result of information gleaned after two . Remember, this is before the trial of OJ Simpson, so DNA testing was very much in its infancy. "Maybe he did it, maybe he didn't. Dennis Beauford, one of the first deputies to arrive at the scene, stated: "It was a pretty Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, this didn't seem remiss and then in 2007, her mother passed away and that is where the story begins. It was this apartment complex where, on a Sunday evening in the middle of May, everything seemed right with the world. She hopped on her bike and began riding back to her mother's apartment - a distance no greater than three-hundred yards. Through the rest of the year, police would remain relatively silent as to where their investigation stood. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 1-888-CRIME SC (1-888-274-6372) That was when police announced that they were looking for two men, who had been seen in the vicinity of the Georgetown apartment complex late Sunday afternoon. During the investigation, police drove him around to many of the abduction sites, and while he was able to share some information, he didnt know any of the minute details the actual perpetrator would, leading them to believe he was making up his confessions. At around the time these sexual assaults came to an end, in the summer of 1996, police began to eye a specific sexual deviant as a potential suspect. Anyone with information about Sumter County's unsolved cases is asked to use the following methods to provide a crucial tip: Sumter County Sheriff's Office . Invalid password or account does not exist. I have to ask that if you or someone you know knows anything about any one of these cases, please contact your local police department as soon as possible. South Carolina's unsolved mysteries Greenville, SC 29601 62 Light Rain 90% MORE No Alerts & Closings in Your Area Sign Up to Get Future Alerts 1 / 2 Advertisement TOP PICKS South. She was a small girl, who had been wearing yellow shorts, a yellow-and-white polka-dot shirt, and slip-on shoes on the evening she disappeared. Every state has its unsolved mysteries and South Carolina, unfortunately, is not without its own. ", Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster also shared his thoughts, referring to the active state of the investigation or rather, the lack of one: "I can't think of anything worse than losing a child to an act of violence, then on top of that losing a child which you really don't know what happened.". Winds light and variable. So, he'll be back on the street. The sun was beginning to set, and this eight-year old climbed onto her bike to head back home. Earlier in the day, they had been aided by helicopters provided by SLED - the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, a statewide police agency. Bullets damaged the window of a residence and shot through a TV inside. Witnesses told officers they saw two men running from Pearl Street onto Osborne Avenue. DNA testing confirmed her identity. This would come up later in the story, so please keep that in-mind. His stepfather was watching him in her absence. Examining the world of solved and unsolved cases. His hair was dark blonde, which could vary anywhere between blonde and dark brown. It's like a depression has set in.". Upon receiving Bernettas call, a bulletin was released, featuring the young girls description, which informed the countys officers that she was an African American female who stood at 42; weighed 60 to 70 pounds; and was wearing yellow shorts, a yellow-and-white polka dot shirt, and slip-on shoes. Police have deduced that she was killed Greenwood County and her body dumped in Newberry County. 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. It wasn't until the third or fourth crime that police began to link the crimes together, when the suspect descriptions began to slowly align with one another. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The killings also led the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to open a new inquiry into the unsolved death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old whose body was found on a rural road in the area in . 8th Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace, who had replaced William Townes Jones in the preceding half-decade, had plenty to say about this decision. He had been previously terminated due to unexcused absences and excessive tardiness, but that didn't stop him from getting into trouble. Many of these details matched up with what police had heard from the victims themselves - but others did not. Sheriff Foster continued: "We are reasonably sure, at this point, the skull was not dug from a grave." All these cases are active. Three days following Hawkins slaying, police found about 40 shell casings in the area around 526 Sumter St. They also tried to see if her disappearance was tied to other missing persons cases from surrounding states. South Carolina Crime Stoppers View Source Square with arrow pointing upper right. 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. Hampton pleaded not guilty to the charges and immediately recanted his confession, just as hed done in previous cases. Not only did he have a snake tattoo on his upper arm, but he appeared eager to help investigators, giving blood and hair samples, as well as granting them permission to search his car and home. A translator helped him speak to officers, and he said he was robbed before he and the other man were shot by a masked man. Create a password that only you will remember. Those with information regarding the case can contact the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office at 864-942-8600 or the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at 803-737-9000. Winds light and variable.. A clear sky. As Hampton prepared for his five-year sentence, he was facing investigations and charges from four separate states. He voluntarily provided blood and hair samples. Charles Wade Hampton was born on September 21st, 1952. Renee and their friend decided to stay at the court for a short while longer. On Sept. 3, 2007 at 1:00 am the victim LaKavis Henicks age 13 was shot to death in the parking lot of the Gaz-Bah at 6201 Farrow Rd. Unidentified Remains The SLED Forensic Art Unit assists local law enforcement agencies in Unidentified Remains cases. These two men were not immediately believed to be suspects, but were wanted for questioning. By Thursday, May 19th, the mood in the Georgetown apartment complex had changed dramatically. Police have long theorized that the abduction - and later murder - of Kia Logan was a crime of opportunity. 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. In 1996, the testing of mitochondrial DNA was performed at a genetics lab in North Carolina. Research revealed that Lori had married Nathaniel Richardson in February of 1994 and that is where the trail grows cold. As former Sheriff Riley and current Sheriff Tony Davis stated: "members of the community supported the Logan family when in need, and now those funds will support those in need with educational opportunities.". ", Riley, of course, was Major Sam Riley of the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office. On the northern outskirts of the town is the small country airport, which consists of a single elongated runway. Other paranormal phenomena are also regularly reported here. 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 . With the searches beginning to run dry, a reward fund for information was established by Tuck Wooten, the head of the A.M. Tuck Inc. concrete company. They were just a few hundred or so yards from their apartment, where the sisters lived with their mother, a middle school teacher. Her picture appeared on ADVO cards in August and the story was recently on television. Alex Murdaugh took the witness stand on Feb. 23, Day 23 of his trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.When Murdaugh . Link said Maj. Hugh Butler, who oversees the detectives division, said officers are making progress with the evidence they have, but there is no new information detectives can release right now. The days in which the victims were abducted varied, with three of the crimes happening on a Saturday, a Friday, and a Monday. There were six victims in total, all of whom - save for one - were young black girls between the ages of five and nine. "I hope wherever she (Kia) is, she's safe and alive and she'll be home soon. This year my daughter Renee will go, but I will stay here to answer the phone, just in case. Police had continued to interview people within the apartment complex, hoping to learn more about these two mysterious men and any ties they had to the tenants. 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. He had been in police custody, and when questioned, he began confessing to the crimes. It all pointed to a very confusing puzzle, which police didn't know how to make sense of. While police work to find the people responsible for killing Hawkins and Ramsey, they are also still investigating the July 15, 2018 shooting death of Quatavious Freeman. She, also, went missing while riding her bike very close to her home, in a public setting. He had been handcuffed, bound with duct tape, and shot in the head. Hampton openly confessed to committing several of the abductions and willingly provided details of the accompanying assaults, with most details matching up with what the victims had provided. Even though you cant say I understand what youre going through, because I have not lost a child, you have to just be with them, answer the questions they have and be available to them when they need to talk and reach out to you.. I criticize us for not raising such an uproar it would be heard across this nation .. To this day, the case remains open and unsolved. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. You hate to have any murders, but I think a 91% solve rate is probably one of the highest ones out there, especially for a department our size and with that number of them, he said. It just stops as if she evaporated into the hot southern air of South Carolina. On May 16, 1988, approximately 75 people, including citizen volunteers, conducted another search of the area around the apartment complex, aided by helicopters provided by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, also known as SLED. On May 18, 1988, police released a statement to the public, which informed residents that two men were seen in the vicinity of the apartment complex on the afternoon Kia went missing. GREENWOOD, SC (WSPA) A rally in front of the Greenwood Courthouse brought families of nearly a half dozen murder victims together Tuesday afternoon. All of their friends in the apartment complex had since gone home, so Renee knew that Kia wasn't still out there. Calling them cold cases implies they're no longer active, but Chaudoin. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. While investigators were still interviewing witnesses and scouring evidence, like video from nearby security cameras along Pearl Street, for any leads, they had to begin working on the next shooting. The families and friends of those slain deserve answers, and Chaudoin said he asks investigators to revisit these open cases every now and then. Can't we show at least as much concern for the fate of a child? Let's send the message forth: "Greenwood County folks get right upset when one of their children is criminally abused. Name. He had a pockmarked face with pointed features, and his hair is believed to have been brownish with sun streaks. Throughout the beginning of the search for her daughter, Bernetta begged the kidnapper to show some mercy toward Kia. He was described as being between thirty-five and forty years old, with slender ad pointed facial features. CID Email Anonymous Tip Submission Crime Stoppers. Dennis Beauford, the deputy who had responded to the incident and originally stayed the night, continued to feel a personal connection to the story. Greenwood's law enforcement now working 4 unsolved homicides, By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ Police department Public Information Officer Jonathan Link said investigators are continuing to work with the information theyve gathered in each of these cases, and that theyve tried to get more information through interviewing witnesses and other people of interest. They were able to release a composite of him, which aired on the evening news, along with a description of his vehicle, which was believed to be a mid-1970s dark blue or black Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Her father, Richard Logan, was the mayor of a small South Carolina town named Saluda. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 254.8. Few details have been gleaned from interviews. We couldn't prove this case.". Riley, a famously tight-lipped officer, stated: "We're treating it strictly as a missing persons report. Charles Hampton agreed to give up blood and hair samples to investigators. A little after nine o'clock that evening, Kia was reported missing to the Greenwood County Sheriff's Department. 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. Parker told police he heard a knock at the front door and opened it, then was shot by one of the two men there. Most South Carolinians Have Never Heard Of This Fascinating Auto Museum, People Are Going Crazy Over The Handmade Monster Biscuit At This Tiny South Carolina Restaurant, Explore An Island From 700 Feet Above On This Helicopter Ride In South Carolina, Paddling Through The Hidden Wadboo Creek Is A Magical South Carolina Adventure That Will Light Up Your Soul, Donald Pee Wee Gaskins, One Of Americas First Serial Killers, Got His Start In South Carolina, The Dark History Behind This Tiny Town In South Carolina Will Never Be Forgotten, Dukes Mayonnaise Was Invented At This Old, Charming Two-Story Ruin In South Carolina From The Early 1900s, The Terrifying South Carolina Lowcountry Road Trip Is Haunting Good Fun. However, with DNA testing being in its infancy, it would be years before they could definitively test the skull for forensic proof. It had grown to a total of $20,328.68. Investigators with the S.C. Highway Patrol ( SCHP . The composite, for all of its intrigue, led to no real suspects in the surrounding area. Police called for EMS, but Padgett looked badly injured so officers loaded him into a patrol car to drive him to the hospital. I know that we dont want to think about such things happening in our own backyard, but we must. 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. Investigators had been pursuing clues as far away as California, and trying to tie Kia's disappearance to other stories of missing children in the surrounding states. Through interviews, police learned two or three men had come over to the house prior to the shooting. ddominguez@indexjournal.com. South Carolina Department of Social Services; South Carolina Dept Health & Environmental Control; . This meant that investigators now had half-a-decade to try and work out a case against him. It had been nearly five years since the original indictment was filed, accusing him of the abduction and murder of Kia Logan. Gwen is an author, artist, illustrator, graphic designer, mother, wife, and part-time super hero. It wasn't until the sister returned to the apartment complex half-an-hour later that anyone realized this eight-year old was missing. Hampton confessed to committing three child abductions in a northern Georgia town, and even confessed to killing a child out on a farm. There was no identification on them, but it was surmised they were traveling or 'backpacking'. We dont close out these cases because theyre so important.. However, three - which took place in the middle of this crime spree - took place on a Thursday. Results: Unresolved. Greenwood County Sheriff Giles Daniel stated that calls were still pouring in about Kia, either potential sightings or people that may know something. Officers spoke to a witness who said they were near Hawkins when he was shot. How can we send such a message? You may remain anonymous and possibly receive a cash reward. Malakia Kia Zali Logan was born on August 1, 1979 to parents Richard and Bernetta Logan. A clear sky. They searched pretty exhaustively for around three weeks, unable to locate any more remains other than the skull. Homicides dont get closed. Despite their efforts, no evidence was found. No closure. The podcast is hosted by veteran journalist Anne Emerson, along with former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon and producer As police tried to pinpoint the motive for Hampton's confessions, the forensic analysis they were hoping to rely on brought back an intriguing proposition. Tipsters can also reach out on Facebook, or submit a tip anonymously online at bit.ly/3zN6rM2. Just like the day of the week, the timing changed, as well: some victims were abducted as early as 12:45 in the afternoon, while others were abducted as the sun began to set: seven or eight o'clock at night. Anyone with information on any of Greenwood's homicides is asked to call law enforcement at 911, or police detectives at 864-942-8407. Eventually, DNA testing would show that, while the same suspect was involved in all six abductions, Hampton was not the one who committed them. Learn how your comment data is processed. Throughout the 30+ year investigation, various leads and suspects would come and go. And, if his father was a physician in Canada, wouldn't he have been looking for them? Part of me is missing and I need to find it.". 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. 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. There were approximately 17,721 homicides in South Carolina between 1980 and 2019, according to the Project: Cold Case website for unsolved homicide statistics. When the skull was discovered in 1990, it proved a lone clue in a vast sea of nothingness. Police took Hampton out of jail, and drove him to many of the landmarks and locations from the child abductions. Over the next week, the letter written by Dr. Wiggins inspired many to pledge support to the Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund. The County Bank is accepting and receipting donations. 6 Infamous Bone Chilling Unsolved Mysteries In South CarolinaThank for watching! It began to seem to police like he was making things up as he went along, but they were constantly reminded by the facts that something was amiss. 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. The Greenwood County Sheriffs Office is working to solve the case of 18-year-old Tadarrius Robinson, who was found fatally shot on July 25, 2018 at 103 Wheatfield Drive. On May 30th, over two weeks after Kia had disappeared, investigators were still optimistic. On October 1st, 1990 - a Monday - a hunter was in an area just outside of Newberry, South Carolina. However, by the time the skull was forensically proven as belonging to Kia Logan, they had come across a suspect they believed was not only responsible for Kia's death, but an assortment of various sexual assaults and crimes against children. Upon his arrest, he proved very cooperative with law enforcement. He was sentenced to eight years, with time already served. This search continued until it was too dark, but resumed the next day. You will receive your first email soon. They are asking local law enforcement to. On the evening on May 15, 1988, Kia and Renee were playing basketball with a friend at the court of a nearby park, located 300 yards from their apartment complex. They were both prepared to pursue the death penalty in the upcoming criminal trial, which they were allowed to for any kidnapping or sexual assault charges when the victim was eleven years old or younger. You see, despite being let go, he was arrested in 1996 after drilling some holes in the wall of the women's bathroom. It seems that there may be been two suspects who were trying to rob the bank. Anyone with information on any of these shootings is urged to contact police by calling 864-942-8407, sending them a message through the departments Facebook page, or through the anonymous online tip form at cityofgreenwoodsc.com/departments/police/submit-an-anonymous-tip. Subscribe Now:. The prosecutors consulted Kia's family throughout this process, taking their feelings into consideration. Call CrimeStoppers 843-554-1111. Families were barbecuing, having picnics, and hanging out in the pool, while children were playing all around the complex. Welldo you really need that much sleep? Kia and her sister, Renee, were playing with some friends on the basketball court, when Kia decided to turn in at around 8:30 PM. Its not just about arresting a suspect, Chaudoin said, its about building a case the states prosecutors can get a conviction with. The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery offers an in-depth look at the unfolding criminal saga centered around disgraced former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh. Coffee is her best friend and a good book cannot be beat! According to our research of South Carolina and other state lists, there were 13 registered sex offenders living in Greenwood, South Carolina as of March 04, 2023. Police interviewed a few of Paynes friends and coworkers but didnt learn much. Use at your own risk. She never came home with her sister. Titled "The Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund," it hope to incentivize anyone with information to come forward. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Despite that, police wouldn't have any real leads to follow up on until October of the next year, 1990. Neighbors cameras didnt offer much, but one witness said he saw a black sedan leave speeding from the area. It bothers me that we seem willing to accept this obvious crime against a child without a public uproar. Police also found actual pairs of children's underwear in his laundry, which then sent in for forensic testing. On Sunday, July 17, 1966, a brutal triple murder took three lives in Henderson County, N.C. To this day, after-effects from the grisly slayings of Vernon Shipman, Charles Glass and Louise Davis. Coroner IDs man killed in Greenwood shooting, Greenwood police identify suspect in Taggart Avenue slaying, Father of firsts: Man's life is a walk through Black history in Greenwood, Greenwood man gets 23-year sentence in death of 18-month-old, Calhoun Falls man faces federal drug count, PTC Foundation lacing up sneakers for Spring Forward 5K, Pi Day Lecture at the Arts Center of Greenwood, EAA and AMA sponsors Build and Fly project. It is reported that a neighbor saw him standing outside by the road with his bicycle as if he were waiting on the bus, but he didn't have school that day. We're requesting anyone with information call our office.". One way is to make the amount of the reward really impressive and/or tempting. Between 1995 and 1996, the states of Georgia and South Carolina began investigating a series of sexual assaults that occurred along a specific interstate. One person said they saw a man running from the area between two of the apartment complexs buildings. Charles Wade Hampton later plead guilty to obstruction of justice charges, which stemmed from him lying to investigators. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Advertisement Investigators with the Greenwood Police. 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. At the scene, people were scrambling into cars and driving off, including someone driving Hawkins to the hospital for treatment. 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. This not being enough, the skull would later be sent to an FBI lab in 1998. Those early tests were inconclusive, relying on DNA found in the skull itself in very primitive ways. It was a crime where no sexual assault had taken place, but centered around the abduction of a seven-year old victim in 1995. In 2009, the Malakia Logan Memorial Scholarship was established at Lander University, in her hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina. A campus podcast with chilling repercussions. They were still investigating new avenues, but none of them led anywhere. As time passed, approximately 13,853 of those murders were solved, leaving the state with approximately 3,868 unsolved murders in South Carolina as of the last website update. Greenwood's law enforcement now working 4 unsolved homicides By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com Jun 5, 2019 Zykevious Ramsey's sister, Jada Leverette, said her brother was a. Malakia Logan Unresolved Malakia Logan Two years before the disappearance of the Millbrook Twins, and six years before Tiffany Nelson went missing, another African American girl went missing about an hour north - in a small town called Greenwood, South Carolina. It is believed that the subjects were attempting to rob his neighbor's apartment. On October 1, 1990, a deer hunter was walking along a pasture in a wooded area on US Forest Service Property in Newberry County, South Carolina.