Officers spoke to a witness who said they were near Hawkins when he was shot. According to investigators, theyd had a case against him since 2000 and hed, in fact, been a suspect since 1996. Can't we show at least as much concern for the fate of a child? Local businesses continued by making donations to the fund. Will they ever find out what happened and who these two young people were? The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Greenwood is 1,836 to 1. Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin said he keeps a file in his office of the departments unsolved homicide cases, to keep them fresh in his mind and revisit them when he can. Unsolved Murdaugh Murders Expose Years of South Carolina Mysteries Alex Murdaugh, the powerful lawyer who asked a handyman to kill him, had a spectacular fall from grace. One man who had met the couple stated that the man, Jacques, had told him that his father was a physician in Canada. 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. Sadly, South Carolina and other states in the United States have hundreds, if not thousands, of unsolved cases. People were arrested in connection with this case, a report said, but witnesses recanted their statements and the suspects were released for lack of evidence. I'm going down today and make my donation and I challenge you, be you a parent, citizen or business, if you're really concerned about what happens to the children of the Greenwood Community, go down to any office of the County Bank and make your donation. Anyone with information on any of Greenwoods homicides is asked to call law enforcement at 911, or police detectives at 864-942-8407. Name. Sadly, if we forget then so do others and no one should be forgotten. 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. 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 didn't want to miss any potential calls from Kia. Early on in questioning, Charles admitted that he often changed his hair color. 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.". 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. He'll be back on the street. Victims advocates play an important role in communicating with the families of people killed, and officers work to be up-front and communicate often with the families. 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. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. 1-888-CRIME SC (1-888-274-6372) "Cold cases" isn't the term Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin likes to use for his department's unsolved homicides. South Carolina is loaded with history and ghostly tales of suspense. South Carolina Department of Social Services; South Carolina Dept Health & Environmental Control; . 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. We dont close out these cases because theyre so important.. 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. 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). "As a result of interviews we are now looking for two men and two vehicles. 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. It just stops as if she evaporated into the hot southern air of South Carolina. Its not just about arresting a suspect, Chaudoin said, its about building a case the states prosecutors can get a conviction with. 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. Let's send the message forth: "Greenwood County folks get right upset when one of their children is criminally abused. No one knows what really happened in that short span of time. Titled "The Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund," it hope to incentivize anyone with information to come forward. He included details, some of which convinced police that he had involvement, but others they viewed skeptically. It happened May 15, 1988, somewhere between the small park that was just 300 yards away from the apartment complex and her door. At this point, police were convinced it belonged to Kia, but were unable to positively conclude this, despite using dental records and the skull reconstruction techniques made available to them. When Hampton stopped cooperating with police and withdrew his previous statements taking credit for the 1995 and 1996 sexual assaults, police realized that they needed to build a case around evidence, not just his comments. 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. It had grown to a total of $20,328.68. In 2009, the Malakia Logan Memorial Scholarship was established at Lander University, in her hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina. Sylvia Holtzclaw was running the bank alone on Friday, May 16, 2003, in Greer, SC. 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. Those early tests were inconclusive, relying on DNA found in the skull itself in very primitive ways. 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. "I hope wherever she (Kia) is, she's safe and alive and she'll be home soon. This was when he was transferred to a jail in Greenwood county - the same county where Kia Logan had disappeared from in 1988. 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. The sunny atmosphere from just a few days prior had evaporated. If they wanted to try him for any of those crimes, they needed a more definitive smoking gun. We won't share it with anyone else. He had been talking with someone on a moped when a dark car came up, and two people opened fire from within. Edward Lee Elmore was a black man in the town of Greenwood, South Carolina in 1982 when he was arrested for the murder of 75-year-old Dorothy Edwards, a popular fun-loving woman who was well-known in the community. Choose wisely! Kias case was featured on a 1990 episode of Unsolved Mysteries. 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. On May 15th, 1988, all seemed to be well in the world. We couldn't prove this case.". A follow-up news article stated how employees of the local K-Mart, so moved by Wiggins' battle cry, raised $650 within an hour. 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. 1)The only theory in the case is that Charles Wade Hampton is the person who abducted and murder Kia. He did not live here. The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery offers an in-depth look at the unfolding criminal saga centered around disgraced former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh. While in a Georgia prison, investigators in North Carolina and Florida were looking at Hamptons potential involvement in similar abductions and assaults in their states, as the abductions stopped as soon as he was locked up. 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. Call CrimeStoppers 843-554-1111. Love South Carolina? City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. 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. Numerous people called in potential sightings of Kia or of people who may know something about the case. This would prove to be one of the only clues found during the course of the investigation. 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. Newspaper reports indicate that she was born with two holes in her heart, but she would turn out to be stronger than she knew. An unsolved murder. I feel confident such an impressive reward, with the proper publicity, will help the authorities solve this mystery AND our community may well have made the solution possible. Bullets damaged the window of a residence and shot through a TV inside. Hampton would plead guilty to his original felony Peeping Tom charge, meaning that he would be spending the next five years in state prison. They did, however, share a similar suspect description of a middle-aged white man with grey stubble, a pockmarked complexion and a tattoo of either a dragon or a snake on one of his biceps. On the northern outskirts of the town is the small country airport, which consists of a single elongated runway. Then at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Greenwood police found Ramsey sitting on the steps outside his Thornbrook Court apartment with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the head. Speaking about the indictment, longtime Greenwood County Sheriff Sam Riley stated: "There was no relationship between him and Kia. Crime in Greenwood, South Carolina (SC): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map All Cities South Carolina, South Carolina smaller cities, South Carolina small towns Greenwood main page US Crime 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. BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. (WIS) - Two men died in a shooting Friday night in Batesburg-Leesville, police confirmed. Use at your own risk. According to investigators, theyd managed to uncover strong evidence linking Hampton to Kias murder, including a version of events that included details only someone involved would know, which was enough for a Greenwood County grand jury to indict him on the charges. 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. "The case is 19 years old; the family has been living with it for 19 years. Carolyn Kelley, the apartment/property manager that lived in the apartments with her daughter and granddaughter, had noticed a complete overhaul of the environment. A random child abduction that went "sour" - usually a byproduct of a victim choosing to fight back, or attempting to run away. The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average. He had green eyes, with brown hair, a brown mustache, and a few days' worth of graying stubble at the time of his arrest in 1996. Police checked for fingerprints and gunshot residue, along with pulling Parkers phone records to identify who he had spoken with. The Greenwood County Sheriffs Office can be reached at 864-942-8632, or by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. But that optimisim would be short-lived, as weeks began to bleed into months. One of the most intriguing and promising leads in this investigation came on that Wednesday night, May 18th, when a composite sketch of a potential suspect was aired on the evening news. His stepfather was watching him in her absence. Is it twisted thinking? Despite that, police wouldn't have any real leads to follow up on until October of the next year, 1990. Remember, this is before the trial of OJ Simpson, so DNA testing was very much in its infancy. Soon, children began playing outside of the Georgetown apartments once again, Kia's disappearance becoming an outlier to a safe community. Given the case theyd put together, they were prepared to pursue the death penalty. 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. During these searches, they uncovered many out-of-place items, as well as images of nude women and adults, a pornographic magazine, torn-out magazine images of children and several photographs of children in their underwear. 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. This is when police spoke to Hampton's ex-wife and girlfriend, who told them things about Charles that made them think he was a viable suspect. Nothing more is known On a cold and rainy Thursday morning Jeremy Grice mysteriously vanished from his North Augusta home. He had been handcuffed, bound with duct tape, and shot in the head. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Subscribe Now:. 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 . Police noted that he had a snake tattoo on his upper arm, as well as his initials - C.H. In most cases, they were sexually assaulted before being abandoned in a public setting, but at least one of the girls wasn't she was simply abducted and then dumped off at a gas station, where she was able to call for help. Other paranormal phenomena are also regularly reported here. Major Sam Riley was quoted as saying: "These leads have carried the investigation outside of the Greenwood area.". A man and a woman (who have come to be known by Jacques and Jane) were shot three times each. His height was listed in the range of 5'8" or 5'9", and he was of slight build, in the weight range of 150 pounds. There were six victims in total, all of whom - save for one - were young black girls between the ages of five and nine. Then, when her family and former-sheriff Sam Riley got involved, they realized that the initial reward fund - which had been established for information - had remained untouched for around two decades. There were 14 shell casings of different makes and calibers in the area. 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. While some descriptions of this suspect varied - such as at least one of the girls calling the suspect "fat in his tummy" and the perpetrator's hair color varying - these details were all universally agreed upon. These tips carried the investigation outside the Greenwood area, with investigators pursuing leads to as far away at California. Low 44F. After this discovery, interrogators circled back around to Hampton. The sun was beginning to set, and this eight-year old climbed onto her bike to head back home. Tipsters can also reach out on Facebook, or submit a tip anonymously online at bit.ly/3zN6rM2. It hasn't been updated with any of his current information. On May 30th, over two weeks after Kia had disappeared, investigators were still optimistic. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki - "Malakia Logan", WISTV - "Indictment in 14-year-old disappearance of Greenwood girl", WISTV - "Suspect in murder of Greenwood County eight-year-old may soon walk free", Lander University - "Scholarship established in memory of Kia Logan", "Sexually Motivated Crimes: Understanding the Profile of the Sex Offender and Applying Theory to Practice" by Janet R. Oliva (CRC Press), Only In Your State - "9 Infamous Bone-Chilling Unsolved Mysteries In South Carolina", Kimberly Riley & Jeremy Britt-Bayinthavong, Paul Skiba, Sarah Skiba, and Lorenzo Chivers, June & Jennifer Gibbons (The Silent Twins). Winds light and variable. He voluntarily provided blood and hair samples. The next day, a retired pediatrician named Casper E. Wiggins wrote a heartfelt editorial in the Index Journal, which read as follows: " A child is missing, and apart from the few days immediately after her kidnapping, the public outcry has been next to nothing. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Officers heard about 10 shots at about 2:50 a.m. May 19, 2019 from the area of Pearl Street. 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. 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. They had no evidence that he had actually committed the crime, but they had his confession on-record, and at the very least, he had lied to investigators and caused them to waste valuable time by pursuing him as the suspect. 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. 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 . Police spoke with about 20 people in the area, but few had anything to report. 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.