She then contacted Lori's daughter and found that she hadn't heard from Lori since 1992. No one wants to think that there is evil that walks among us; an evil that stalks the dark and steals the light. 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. However, one of the most interesting notes of this sketch came from a description, which noted that the suspect had a pockmarked face. Here, the skull would be confirmed as belonging to Kia Logan, with the FBI forensic investigators theorizing that Kia had originaly been killed in Greenwood County and then later dumped in Newberry County. It had been nearly five years since the original indictment was filed, accusing him of the abduction and murder of Kia Logan. They had held out hope that someone had abducted her for ransom, or perhaps - just perhaps - she actually had run away. On October 1, 1990, Malakia's remains were found in a wooded area on U.S. Forest Service property in Newberry County. By September 15th, Kia had been missing for four months. If they wanted to try him for any of those crimes, they needed a more definitive smoking gun. 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. As an adult, he stood about five-feet-eight-inches tall, weighing it at only 132 pounds. 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. On this Sunday afternoon, in the middle of May, all seemed to be well. It was a crime where no sexual assault had taken place, but centered around the abduction of a seven-year old victim in 1995. It was occupied by an older white male with graying hair. Choose wisely! These tips carried the investigation outside the Greenwood area, with investigators pursuing leads to as far away at California. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. The sketch came from the witness sightings of the second person-of-interest, who had been driving the dark mid-70's model Monte Carlo. This search continued until it was too dark, but resumed the next day. The Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund was established by Tuck Wooten, the Head of A.M. Tuck Inc. You never know if that tiny piece of information could flesh out the full puzzle. 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. 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. Those early tests were inconclusive, relying on DNA found in the skull itself in very primitive ways. As of publishing, there have not been any new updates in relation to Kias disappearance and murder, nor about the investigation into it. 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. Missing Persons my Neighborhood alarm registration File a report Charleston Murdaugh Murders | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News - WCIV Police were later able to link him to a farm, which was owned by a friend. It is what life is made of. 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. South Carolina murderers list | Murderpedia He was accused of intentionally drilling the holes to Peep on unwitting victims, and arrested shortly after this was discovered. The days in which the victims were abducted varied, with three of the crimes happening on a Saturday, a Friday, and a Monday. Stabbed Sadly, if we forget then so do others and no one should be forgotten. 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. Hampton would plead guilty to his original felony Peeping Tom charge, meaning that he would be spending the next five years in state prison. Dennis Beauford, the deputy who had responded to the incident and originally stayed the night, continued to feel a personal connection to the story. There are just no leads or evidence to go on even though the police push every avenue they come across. Winds light and variable. Hampton had been sitting in a Georgia prison at the time, and if South Carolina prosecutors tried the case at that time, they would be forced to bring Hampton to trial within 180 days. At the time of his arrest, he was forty-four years old, and was driving a white 1986 Dodge 600. Homicides dont get closed. Major Sam Riley was stated: "Our department, as well as SLED and FBI personnel, are still actively investigating. She didn't want to miss any potential calls from Kia. Learn how your comment data is processed. Parker told police he heard a knock at the front door and opened it, then was shot by one of the two men there. He was sentenced to eight years, with time already served. Numerous people called in potential sightings of Kia or of people who may know something about the case. Many of these details matched up with what police had heard from the victims themselves - but others did not. There were 14 shell casings of different makes and calibers in the area. Within the year, the Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund had topped $20,000, for any information that would lead to answers for the missing eight-year old. The author of the newspaper article noted that as she spoke about her daughter, Bernetta was clutching a photo of Kia. Dispatchers told police several men were seen running behind a residence on Sumter street and dropping guns off. 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. It's hard not to compare the crime to that of Tiffany Nelson, a nine-year old that went missing from Augusta, Georgia in June of 1994. "Cold cases" isn't the term Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin likes to use for his department's unsolved homicides. The felony, which carried a potential ten year sentence, was handed down shortly after his plea. Police were able to link Hampton to a farm owned in northern Georgia, which was owned by a friend of his. 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. He reported him missing at 10 a.m. that morning. The prosecutors consulted Kia's family throughout this process, taking their feelings into consideration. 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. Greenwood is the type of town you imagine when you think of rural America: a downtown comprised of brick buildings, a railroad track that separates the storefronts from the industrial area, and a large suburban population. In 1993, the skull was sent off to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC for DNA testing. 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. There was no identification on them, but it was surmised they were traveling or 'backpacking'. Sometime in the middle of the night, a man stole her from the bedroom without waking her. Hampton pleaded not guilty to the charges and immediately recanted his confession, just as hed done in previous cases. Despite this overwhelming sadness experienced by Bernetta and her family at this moment in time, the article had a profound effect on the community. 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. Witnesses said they hadnt seen Kia near the men or getting into either of their vehicles. 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. 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. Riley, a famously tight-lipped officer, stated: "We're treating it strictly as a missing persons report. You have permission to edit this article. Advertisement Investigators with the Greenwood Police. The location of the skull was four miles east of the city of Newberry and 35 miles east of Greenwood. Witnesses told officers they saw two men running from Pearl Street onto Osborne Avenue. 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. Anyone with information on any of Greenwoods homicides is asked to call law enforcement at 911, or police detectives at 864-942-8407. It all pointed to a very confusing puzzle, which police didn't know how to make sense of. 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. A clear sky. Like I said, these crimes varied by location, with some taking place in Georgia and others in South Carolina. Along Mount Pleasant Road also known as the S.C. 34 Highway he came across a badly decomposed human skull, which prompted him to contact the Newberry County Sheriffs Office. This was a random act, which seems to be his technique.". He admitted to committing three child abductions in northern Georgia and confessed to having killed a child at an out-of-state farm. Greenwood, SC Area Cold Cases | SpotCrime Police interviewed a few of Paynes friends and coworkers but didnt learn much. A random child abduction that went "sour" - usually a byproduct of a victim choosing to fight back, or attempting to run away. He'll be back on the street. Friends were celebrating the warm weather by swimming in the apartment pools, kids were playing outside among others their age, and families were barbecuing and picnicking in the community areas. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 254.8. ddominguez@indexjournal.com. Freeman was shot at about 10 p.m. July 15, 2018 at a Sumter Street residence. 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. The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery | Unsolved South Carolina on Between 1995 and 1996, the states of Georgia and South Carolina began investigating a series of sexual assaults that occurred along a specific interstate. Throughout the 30+ year investigation, various leads and suspects would come and go. 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 . When they continued their rounds of questioning, Hampton was eager to talk. At least four of the six could easily be solved if someone would step up and give us better info because they know.. Through the rest of the year, police would remain relatively silent as to where their investigation stood. And, if his father was a physician in Canada, wouldn't he have been looking for them? Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Richard Martin Age. 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. Low 44F. They had been shot. 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. Charles Wade Hampton were eventually charged with Malakia's murder, but the mystery remains unsolved. But that optimisim would be short-lived, as weeks began to bleed into months. You see, despite being let go, he was arrested in 1996 after drilling some holes in the wall of the women's bathroom. 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. How can we send such a message? 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. He said its unlikely that no one saw the shooter, but rather that witnesses dont feel comfortable sharing what they saw. Bullets damaged the window of a residence and shot through a TV inside. Scary. 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. Despite that, police wouldn't have any real leads to follow up on until October of the next year, 1990. On the northern outskirts of the town is the small country airport, which consists of a single elongated runway. 5C Albert Adams, known as "New York" in the Greenline community, was shot and killed on the front porch of his apartment. 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.. Three years later, in 1996, Newberry County investigators asked a private genetics lab in North Carolina to perform mitochondrial DNA testing, using DNA obtained from Kias parents, which suggested the skull did, in fact, belong to Kia, a fact that was confirmed upon the skull being sent to the FBI lab in Washington in 1998. She, also, went missing while riding her bike very close to her home, in a public setting. Six have gone unsolved. On May 15th, 1988, all seemed to be well in the world. Freeman died at the hospital while being treated for his injuries. A bouncer remembers talking to her around 1:30 a.m. before she walked out of the club. The charges against Hampton was dropped due to lack of evidence. Cold cases isnt the term Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin likes to use for his departments unsolved homicides. Subscribe Now:. They tried to use the dental records and skull reconstruction techniques available to them, in an effort to determine if the skull was Kia's, but nothing was positively confirmed. 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. Malakia Zali Logan, most commonly called by her nickname, Kia, was born on August 1st, 1979. Examining the world of solved and unsolved cases. They combed around the Georgetown Apartments for most of the night, until the lack of light eventually led to them turning it around. The composite, for all of its intrigue, led to no real suspects in the surrounding area. He also had scars along his right arm and stomach, which matched up with what one of the younger victims had described. A campus podcast with chilling repercussions. Also, the Kia Reward Fund is growing and we are hopeful that this will bring someone forward with positive information. Gunshots were heard on Pearl Street near Osborne Avenue. 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. Bernetta, the girls' mother, began looking around the apartment complex for eight-year old Kia. Get Alerts Map; Browse By State; Submit a Crime Tip Square with arrow pointing upper right. Witnesses said they heard the shooting and one gave a description of a suspect but left before officers could question them further. A Mother and Son Are Found Murdered, Deepening a Mystery in South Carolina. It was occupied by a white male, thirty-five to forty years of age, slender built, lean or pointed facial features with brownish blond hair with sun streaks.". Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. "We're also looking for a faded dark blue or black Monte Carlo, a mid-70's model. Coffee is her best friend and a good book cannot be beat! You can also contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at (803) 737-9000. But Mr. Murdaugh, part of a prominent family of South Carolina lawyers, has denied any involvement in the unsolved killings . South Carolina Crime Stoppers View Source Square with arrow pointing upper right. The physical search didn't produce any leads or clues. Police did not share the part of town in which the shooting happened. Remember, this is before the trial of OJ Simpson, so DNA testing was very much in its infancy. However, police and investigators have yet to find any more of Kia Logan's remains, and remain hopeful that those will turn up some day, allowing them to fully pursue a suspect or person-of-interest in the crimes. "It's definitely changed the lifestyle here. In an idling SUV, Sherwin Gittens was found dead by police. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. Share your news tips and story ideas with us. About two weeks earlier, Cody Hawkins was shot in an apparent drive-by shooting May 19 on Pearl Street, close to Osborne Avenue. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Rewards are being offered. Winds light and variable. After a few days, the Director of Greenwoods Emergency Preparedness said the group would be suspending their involvement in the search and would wait for law enforcement to request further assistance before getting involved again. I had dreams that maybe she's been in California or somewhere all this time.". 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. Sam Riley, who had been a Major in the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office, had recently been elected Sheriff. 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. The crime spree began in July 1995 and carried on until August of 1996. 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. Greenwood's law enforcement now working 4 unsolved homicides, By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ Share your news tips and story ideas with us. Murdaugh undergoes cross-examination in his own murder trial. Create a password that only you will remember. Set in the middle of Greenwood itself, the reward fund started with a $2000 donation in her name. In 2009, the Malakia Logan Memorial Scholarship was established at her hometown's Lander University. They had been playing basketball together when Malakia decided to go home. In 1990, sadly, her remains were found by a deer hunter. People with information are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. We dont close out these cases because theyre so important.. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Charles Wade Hampton was born on September 21st, 1952. The documentation for this case included a lead sheet filed in April 2020, where an officer detailed dozens of interviews done in this case, along with tips detectives have followed up on. He died later at the hospital. Thats why its so important that we build that relationship with the community and we have that working relationship, he said. If You enjoy it, please Like, Share and Subcribe this Chanel. In the past 21 years the departments digital records system goes back, there were 55 murders reported to the police. No one knows what really happened in that short span of time.