Unfortunately, this didn't seem remiss and then in 2007, her mother passed away and that is where the story begins. One man who had met the couple stated that the man, Jacques, had told him that his father was a physician in Canada. Newberry County Memorial Hospital forensic pathologist Dr. Keene Garvin reiterated this finding, stating - after preliminary testing had been conducted - that the skull was likely placed there are the body had decomposed. But now a parent's worst fear was beginning to creep into their bones the realization that she had not been okay, that something HAD happened to her. This would come up later in the story, so please keep that in-mind. All of their friends in the apartment complex had since gone home, so Renee knew that Kia wasn't still out there. She could find no sign of her, but they would later find Kia's bike overturned just outside of the apartment office. 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. He'll be back on the street. 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. They sent it off for continued testing at the University of South Carolina, where a forensic anthropologist was able to tell investigators that the skull belonged "to a six-to-eight-year-old African American.". Childrens underwear was also found and sent away for forensic testing. People with information are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Create a password that only you will remember. South Carolina Crime Stoppers View Source Square with arrow pointing upper right. They searched pretty exhaustively for around three weeks, unable to locate any more remains other than the skull. 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. In-between the apartment's basketball court and her front door, this little girl had disappeared. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Charles Wade Hampton later plead guilty to obstruction of justice charges, which stemmed from him lying to investigators. Sometime in the middle of the night, a man stole her from the bedroom without waking her. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Share your news tips and story ideas with us. All these cases are active. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The case surrounding Kias disappearance was initially investigated as a simple missing persons report. By September 15th, Kia had been missing for four months. He was described as being between thirty-five and forty years old, with slender ad pointed facial features. 24 Cause of Death. 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. They combed around the Georgetown Apartments for most of the night, until the lack of light eventually led to them turning it around. More than 20 shell casings of three different calibers were found in the road, along with a .45-caliber handgun in a mulch pile near where Hawkins was shot. Titled "The Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund," it hope to incentivize anyone with information to come forward. Malakia Zali Logan, most commonly called by her nickname, Kia, was born on August 1st, 1979. Discuss Greenwood, South Carolina (SC) on our hugely popular South Carolina forum. 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. Despite this overwhelming sadness experienced by Bernetta and her family at this moment in time, the article had a profound effect on the community. Hampton plead not guilty almost instantly. 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. South Carolina is loaded with history and ghostly tales of suspense. When her sisters were questioned, only the 6-year-old stated that a man with a 'magic' hat came and took Jessica away. Charles Hampton agreed to give up blood and hair samples to investigators. 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. 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. He also had scars along his right arm and stomach, which matched up with what one of the younger victims had described. You have permission to edit this article. Payne was shot at about 9:40 p.m. June 12 at 117 Klugh St. Officers arrived on scene with a medical bag, sealing two bullet wounds to his chest. The DNA testing from the six sexual assaults linked them together, indicating that a single suspect was behind each of the crimes - however, none of those samples matched up with Hampton himself. This would prove to be one of the only clues found during the course of the investigation. ", 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.". 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. ddominguez@indexjournal.com. Police were called to the scene, and the skull was taken into police custody for testing. On May 15th, 1988, all seemed to be well in the world. It took police a while to line up the suspect description because the vehicles in-question varied based on each witness: two described the vehicle they had been abducted in as a champagne-gold Mazda, while others pointed out either a white Toyota Corolla or a white Chevy Celebrity. Her granddaughter, Ashley, had been friends with both Kia and Renee Logan, and had actually been playing with the two on the basketball court shortly before Kia disappeared. 1)The only theory in the case is that Charles Wade Hampton is the person who abducted and murder Kia. However, no calls were received and the real investigation into her disappearance began. The man was covered in blood, and Perez made the shape of a gun with his hand to show police that he and the other man had been shot. Police checked for fingerprints and gunshot residue, along with pulling Parkers phone records to identify who he had spoken with. Throughout the beginning of the search for her daughter, Bernetta begged the kidnapper to show some mercy toward Kia. As the years pass, the mystery just intensifies. Both of these generated more leads of possible sightings of Kia Logan and suspects bearing a resemblance of the composite of a man wanted for questioning. Chaudoin provided the investigative reports detailing these open homicide investigations: A 911 caller found Parker lying on his bedroom floor at about 8:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2006 on Leonard Street. Three other people were shot that day and taken to the hospital by others, but many in the crowd said they saw nothing and police couldnt confirm the nature of the shooting. Coffee is her best friend and a good book cannot be beat! He stated about the confirmation of the skull belonging to Kia: "I felt for a long time that the skull was hers, but I hoped it wasn't. He was described as white, between the ages of 35 and 40, 58 to 59 tall and 250 pounds. It seems that there may be been two suspects who were trying to rob the bank. Bullets damaged the window of a residence and shot through a TV inside. The sun was beginning to set, and this eight-year old climbed onto her bike to head back home. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. She lived with her mother and her sister, Renee, in an apartment complex just north of the rural city of Greenwood, South Carolina. 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. She then contacted Lori's daughter and found that she hadn't heard from Lori since 1992. 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. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. It happened around 9:15 p.m. at a home. Over the coming weeks, the leads that Sheriff Giles Daniel was excited about began to dry up, either leading to dead ends or going nowhere at all. And, if his father was a physician in Canada, wouldn't he have been looking for them? Earlier in the day, they had been aided by helicopters provided by SLED - the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, a statewide police agency. Research revealed that Lori had married Nathaniel Richardson in February of 1994 and that is where the trail grows cold. As another family started mourning Tuesday, Greenwood law enforcement had another shooting on their hands to solve. Date of Death: October 25, 2011 Location: 15 Spartanburg Court, Apt. He also soon recanted all of his prior confessions, meaning that police had to start back from square one. But, let a Carolina or a Clemson sports event take the forefront and emotions bubble over throughout the community. Chaudoin said he plans to start a monthly cold case briefing within the next few months, to share information with the public about these cases in the hopes of inspiring tipsters. When does she have the time, you ask? The first man was described as being white, older in age and with greying hair, and was seen driving a medium blue utility-type van with dark tinted windows. This meant that police were pretty confident that the skull had been intentionally left there. 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. I had dreams that maybe she's been in California or somewhere all this time.". A clear sky. 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. Missing Persons my Neighborhood alarm registration File a report A lot of times what you hear law enforcement say is we dont want to give a lot of details out because the case is still pending, he said. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki 1,914 pages Explore Netflix series Episodes Case-Files Contributing in: United States South Carolina Category page Edit This Category is reserved for Unsolved Mysteries cases that occurred on South Carolina. I think it's important to note this, not because I definitively believe him to be the person responsible for Kia Logan's abduction or murder. In the afternoons you see small children running and playing, riding skateboards, that kind of thing. Somewhere out there is someone who knows something about each one of these mysteries and it is up to us to not let them grow cold. 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 . (LogOut/ I am criticizing the rest of us who thrive in our community yet appear apathetic. We began checking missing children cases and conducted three weeks of intensive searches for additional remains, but we didn't find anything.". While they were not considered suspects, investigators did want to question them. In particular, they went after him for comments he had made between his 2000 release from prison and his 2002 re-arrest, in which he had confessed to the 1995 abduction of a five-year old girl from Richland County and the subsequent sexual assault. The Disappearance of Nguyet Thu Wiki Phung, Case Update: Brittanee Drexels Remains Discovered After 13 Years, SuspectCharged, The Disappearances of Tina & BethanySinclair. 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. Police were beginning to become certain that Hampton had simply been lying to them in order to obtain special privileges: such as trips outside of jail, meals, coffee, and cigarettes. A witness spotted two men running from the area after the shooting, and they got into a small silver four-door vehicle parked at a nearby gas station. James and Margaret Barnes walked into the bank together just after 1 p.m. and at 1:30 p.m. the panic button had been pushed. Just like the details he provided: he knew some information about these locales, but not all of the minute details. About two weeks earlier, Cody Hawkins was shot in an apparent drive-by shooting May 19 on Pearl Street, close to Osborne Avenue. It just stops as if she evaporated into the hot southern air of South Carolina. 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. 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. A missing persons report was filed with the county, where Kia is listed as being 4'2" tall, and weighing about 60 to 70 pounds. He had been talking with someone on a moped when a dark car came up, and two people opened fire from within. Neighbors cameras didnt offer much, but one witness said he saw a black sedan leave speeding from the area. There was no identification on them, but it was surmised they were traveling or 'backpacking'. He also had a blotchy, pockmarked face, made worse from poison ivy exposure the year prior. No one wants to think that there is evil that walks among us; an evil that stalks the dark and steals the light. However, with DNA testing being in its infancy, it would be years before they could definitively test the skull for forensic proof. 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. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. In-between her 1988 disappearance and the 1998 confirmation that the skull belonged to her, they had prepared for the worst but anticipated Kia returning home. "It's definitely changed the lifestyle here. On September 23, 1992, Dail Dinwiddie vanished into the night as she was walking along Harden Street in Columbia, SC. Police interviewed a few of Paynes friends and coworkers but didnt learn much. 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. He had been previously terminated due to unexcused absences and excessive tardiness, but that didn't stop him from getting into trouble. Remember, this is before the trial of OJ Simpson, so DNA testing was very much in its infancy. On July 4th, the Greenwood-area newspaper, the Index Journal, ran a story detailing Kia's mom, Bernetta Logan, as she struggled with the disappearance of her youngest daughter. Winds light and variable.. A clear sky. Choose wisely! However, the criminal trial would never come to be. Police were later able to link him to a farm, which was owned by a friend. The results were testing alongside DNA taken from Kia's parents, Bernetta and Richard, and this time, it proved consistent. You never know if that tiny piece of information could flesh out the full puzzle. Hampton would plead guilty to his original felony Peeping Tom charge, meaning that he would be spending the next five years in state prison. 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. Detectives will re-interview witnesses and relatives of victims to try and find any new leads. Sadly, if we forget then so do others and no one should be forgotten. In each crime, the suspect was described as a middle-aged white man, with some kind of gray stubble on his face and a pockmarked complexion, as well as a unique tattoo on a bicep - which some of the young victims called a "dragon," and others a "snake.". "He'll get credit for time served and good behavior. Over the next week, the letter written by Dr. Wiggins inspired many to pledge support to the Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund. No closure. 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. If you know any information about this crime, you can contact the Greenwood County Sheriff's Department at (864) 942-8600. A Mother and Son Are Found Murdered, Deepening a Mystery in South Carolina. Unfortunately for them, as soon as Hampton went to jail for Peeping Tom, he stopped cooperating with investigators. Her older sister and friend stayed at the basketball court for a little while longer. 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. On this Sunday afternoon, in the middle of May, all seemed to be well. Sadly, South Carolina and other states in the United States have hundreds, if not thousands, of unsolved cases. 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 . GREENWOOD, SC (WSPA) A rally in front of the Greenwood Courthouse brought families of nearly a half dozen murder victims together Tuesday afternoon. Invalid password or account does not exist. Police noted that he had a snake tattoo on his upper arm, as well as his initials - C.H. When you get a case like, for example, in 2006 if we havent developed any suspects then I think we need to release a little more information and try to bring a little more to the board and see if we get some more probability of striking someones memory.. Carolyn Kelley, the apartment/property manager that lived in the apartments with her daughter and granddaughter, had noticed a complete overhaul of the environment. He had a pockmarked face with pointed features, and his hair is believed to have been brownish with sun streaks. A clear sky. An initial search of the area around the apartment complex by investigators led to the discovery of Kias bicycle, which was located in the parking lot, just outside of the apartment office. They wanted to keep their options option, should more evidence be found against him, so they didn't want him to go free and then lose any chance at a prosecutor under double jeopardy laws. Officers heard about 10 shots at about 2:50 a.m. May 19, 2019 from the area of Pearl Street. We won't share it with anyone else. You will receive your first email soon. We won't share it with anyone else. 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. Police have deduced that she was killed Greenwood County and her body dumped in Newberry County. (LogOut/ 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.. At the scene, officers found a crowd of people with several gathered around a young mans body. 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. It had grown to a total of $20,328.68. DNA testing confirmed her identity. 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. These tips carried the investigation outside the Greenwood area, with investigators pursuing leads to as far away at California. All six victims had a similar look and profile, with all living close to the highway, and they were all sexually assaulted before being abandoned in a public area, bar one, who was not assaulted and later dropped off at a gas station, where she called for help. Every state has its unsolved mysteries and South Carolina, unfortunately, is not without its own. Low 44F. It was occupied by an older white male with graying hair. They haven't made any positive identification yet. Who was the man who found them? Not only were Georgia and South Carolina preparing cases against him, but North Carolina and Florida were investigating him for similar child abductions and sexual assaults in their states. He lifted his shirt and officers saw Perez had two gunshot wounds on his right side. Low 44F. Low 44F. "Normally there would be a family get-together in Saluda. It had been nearly five years since the original indictment was filed, accusing him of the abduction and murder of Kia Logan. 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. Police also found actual pairs of children's underwear in his laundry, which then sent in for forensic testing. They're no closer today than they were back in 1988 when Kia was snatched up. Winds light and variable.. A clear sky. CID Email Anonymous Tip Submission Crime Stoppers. A bouncer remembers talking to her around 1:30 a.m. before she walked out of the club. Since that time two ponds have been drained, searches have been conducted, and a serial killer (who would have been a teenager at that time) has been interviewed all to no avail. Families were barbecuing, having picnics, and hanging out in the pool, while children were playing all around the complex. 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. However, it wasn't until 2002 that prosecutors began firing off the big guns at Hampton. Between July 1995 and August 1996, authorities in Georgia and South Carolina were investigating a string of abductions and sexual assaults of young Black children along a specific state highway. It was a crime where no sexual assault had taken place, but centered around the abduction of a seven-year old victim in 1995. By this point, her family had begun to fear the worst. He said its unlikely that no one saw the shooter, but rather that witnesses dont feel comfortable sharing what they saw. They were still investigating new avenues, but none of them led anywhere. There were approximately 17,721 homicides in South Carolina between 1980 and 2019, according to the Project: Cold Case website for unsolved homicide statistics. 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.