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. Needless to say, Charles Hampton was now on their radar. He described not only his sex life - which included sex with both genders - but his prior criminal history. It was early morning, October 2001 on Interstate 526. Numerous people called in potential sightings of Kia or of people who may know something about the case. It just stops as if she evaporated into the hot southern air of South Carolina. 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. Charles Wade Hampton later plead guilty to obstruction of justice charges, which stemmed from him lying to investigators. And of course, we have our legendary tale of the "swamp man.". Charles Wade Hampton was born on September 21st, 1952. An eight-year-old girl that lived in this community was out playing with her sister and a friend on their apartment complex's basketball court. "Reading his statement, you'd think that only the person who did that would know those details. They also tried to see if her disappearance was tied to other missing persons cases from surrounding states. Gwen is an author, artist, illustrator, graphic designer, mother, wife, and part-time super hero. Nor am I criticizing those who have helped so far or those concerned citizens who have contributed to the present approximately $3000 reward. DNA testing didn't match him in one of the Georgia cases. They were still investigating new avenues, but none of them led anywhere. ddominguez@indexjournal.com. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. We're requesting anyone with information call our office.". 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. I had dreams that maybe she's been in California or somewhere all this time.". Police have long theorized that the abduction - and later murder - of Kia Logan was a crime of opportunity. Little else could be determined of the victim or how they had died, as the skull showed no signs of obvious trauma or any bullet holes. Another witness described seeing a vehicle pull behind a nearby church and turn its lights off, then speed past heading south. Video from the area showed a car with someone hanging out of the back passenger window and firing. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. 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. As of this episode's recording, the abduction and murder of Malakia Zali Logan remains unresolved. 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. Share your news tips and story ideas with us. 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. However, it wasn't until 2002 that prosecutors began firing off the big guns at Hampton. 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. At the scene, people were scrambling into cars and driving off, including someone driving Hawkins to the hospital for treatment. Choose wisely! From video footage they have been able to piece together that the car was a red Oldsmobile Alero made between 1999 and 2003. A little after nine o'clock that evening, Kia was reported missing to the Greenwood County Sheriff's Department. Hampton plead not guilty almost instantly. 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. As the years pass, the mystery just intensifies. Research revealed that Lori had married Nathaniel Richardson in February of 1994 and that is where the trail grows cold. Name. You can also contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at (803) 737-9000. Winds light and variable. The composite, for all of its intrigue, led to no real suspects in the surrounding area. They had held out hope that someone had abducted her for ransom, or perhaps - just perhaps - she actually had run away. It's like a depression has set in.". 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. In 2009, the Malakia Logan Memorial Scholarship was established at her hometown's Lander University. Sadly, he wasn't too far off. There at that mailbox is the last place Jeremy was seen. Major Sam Riley was quoted as saying: "These leads have carried the investigation outside of the Greenwood area.". He did not live here. 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. Unfortunately, none came, and the next day, they had to begin investigating Kia's disappearance in earnest. When officers arrived, they found two men with gunshot wounds. Earlier in the day, they had been aided by helicopters provided by SLED - the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, a statewide police agency. He was sentenced to eight years, with time already served. Eventually, DNA testing would show that, while the same suspect was involved in all six abductions, Hampton was not the one who committed them. 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. All of these cases are still open and being investigated when or if leads become available. Results: Unresolved. The wooded area he was in, just off of Mount Pleasant Road - also known as S.C. 34 - is about four miles northeast of Newberry and thirty-five miles east of Greenwood, where Kia Logan had disappeared from. However, they were not positively identified until 1998, ten years after she vanished. On October 1st, 1990 - a Monday - a hunter was in an area just outside of Newberry, South Carolina. 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. 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. There are just no leads or evidence to go on even though the police push every avenue they come across. 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 . A man and a woman (who have come to be known by Jacques and Jane) were shot three times each. 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. Police have deduced that she was killed Greenwood County and her body dumped in Newberry County. 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. Tipsters can also reach out on Facebook, or submit a tip anonymously online at bit.ly/3zN6rM2. Sometime in the middle of the night, a man stole her from the bedroom without waking her. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. I only say "likely" because I legitimately can't find any record of him online or in the press since 2007. Three days following Hawkins slaying, police found about 40 shell casings in the area around 526 Sumter St. No one knows what really happened in that short span of time. Cold cases isnt the term Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin likes to use for his departments unsolved homicides. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Greenwood is 1,836 to 1. Her picture appeared on ADVO cards in August and the story was recently on television. It is the yin and yang; balance in all things. Lucas Vega is obsessed with the death of Candace Swa. Hampton was known to spend a good amount of time on this farm, and it remained on the investigator's radar for a good amount of time after this initial confession. Malakia's bike was found near the apartment office. However, they did say they would pursue new charges, should new evidence surface. 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. 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 was a Sunday in Greenwood, South Carolina - a small town roughly an hour north of Augusta, Georgia and about an hour-and-a-half west of Columbia, South Carolina. A clear sky. Officers heard about 10 shots at about 2:50 a.m. May 19, 2019 from the area of Pearl Street. His mother, who lives in New York, hasn't heard anything about the case for a long time. Malakia Kia Zali Logan was born on August 1, 1979 to parents Richard and Bernetta Logan. 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. 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. Over the next week, the letter written by Dr. Wiggins inspired many to pledge support to the Malakia Z. Logan Reward Fund. This meant that investigators now had half-a-decade to try and work out a case against him. When the police finally arrived they found all three of the victims in a utility room in the back of the bank. Scary. 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.". 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. "It's definitely changed the lifestyle here. 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. Childrens underwear was also found and sent away for forensic testing. Unidentified Remains The SLED Forensic Art Unit assists local law enforcement agencies in Unidentified Remains cases. Perez took police to another man lying on a concrete pad behind an apartment. It happened around 9:15 p.m. at a home. She could find no sign of her, but they would later find Kia's bike overturned just outside of the apartment office. When they searched his home, they found several photographs of children in underwear, as well as various photos of nude adults - including pictures of Hampton himself. Sylvia Holtzclaw was running the bank alone on Friday, May 16, 2003, in Greer, SC. It was a crime where no sexual assault had taken place, but centered around the abduction of a seven-year old victim in 1995. Hampton would plead guilty to his original felony Peeping Tom charge, meaning that he would be spending the next five years in state prison. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Sheriff Foster continued: "We are reasonably sure, at this point, the skull was not dug from a grave." Witnesses said they hadnt seen Kia near the men or getting into either of their vehicles. 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. At around 8:15pm, Kia decided she wanted to return home and thus grabbed her bike and left. Dispatchers told police several men were seen running behind a residence on Sumter street and dropping guns off. People with information are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. 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. Upon his arrest, he proved very cooperative with law enforcement. Richard Martin Age. 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. 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. Unfortunately, the searches came up with no sign of Kia, or any clue as to what had happened to her. Given the case theyd put together, they were prepared to pursue the death penalty. If You enjoy it, please Like, Share and Subcribe this Chanel. A follow-up news article stated how employees of the local K-Mart, so moved by Wiggins' battle cry, raised $650 within an hour. Dennis Beauford, one of the first deputies to arrive at the scene, stated: "It was a pretty Sunday afternoon. Contact staff writer Damian Dominguez at 864-634-7548 or follow on twitter @IJDDOMINGUEZ. The crime spree began in July 1995 and carried on until August of 1996. It happened May 15, 1988, somewhere between the small park that was just 300 yards away from the apartment complex and her door. The searches and canvass of the apartment complex continued on into Tuesday, but police wouldn't release another public statement until May 18th - Wednesday. In-between the apartment's basketball court and her front door, this little girl had disappeared. 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. A Mother and Son Are Found Murdered, Deepening a Mystery in South Carolina. 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. He admitted to committing three child abductions in northern Georgia and confessed to having killed a child at an out-of-state farm. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. As another family started mourning Tuesday, Greenwood law enforcement had another shooting on their hands to solve. They had been shot. Police noted that he had a snake tattoo on his upper arm, as well as his initials - C.H. Low 44F. Sadly, South Carolina and other states in the United States have hundreds, if not thousands, of unsolved cases. They had been playing basketball together when Malakia decided to go home. To this day, the case remains open and unsolved. Soon, children began playing outside of the Georgetown apartments once again, Kia's disappearance becoming an outlier to a safe community. In 2009, the Malakia Logan Memorial Scholarship was established at Lander University, in her hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina. In fact, police noted that he might have been a little TOO eager at times. Date of Death: October 25, 2011 Location: 15 Spartanburg Court, Apt. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It was August 9, 1976, on a deserted road in Sumter County, SC, when a trucker happened upon the scene of the murders. 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. 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 had been previously terminated due to unexcused absences and excessive tardiness, but that didn't stop him from getting into trouble. However, no evidence has been found to link him to Dail's case and interviews with him have been sadly uninformative. He lifted his shirt and officers saw Perez had two gunshot wounds on his right side. 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 was no identification on them, but it was surmised they were traveling or 'backpacking'. In all of the sexual assaults, the victim profile remained largely the same. Major Sam Riley was stated: "Our department, as well as SLED and FBI personnel, are still actively investigating. cityofgreenwoodsc.com/departments/police/submit-an-anonymous-tip. 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. 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. 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. It was not long until 52-year-old Charles Wade Hampton, a maintenance worker at the Hard Labor Creek State Park rest stop in Georgia and a former employee of the Department of Transportation, came onto police radar. 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. At least nine unsolved murder cases in Union County have investigators asking the public . Police found him sitting on steps beside the sidewalk, bleeding from his head; an officer couldnt find his pulse. Low 44F. Use at your own risk. 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. Can't we show at least as much concern for the fate of a child? But that optimisim would be short-lived, as weeks began to bleed into months. So, he'll be back on the street. 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. He reported him missing at 10 a.m. that morning. He was described as white, between the ages of 35 and 40, 58 to 59 tall and 250 pounds. 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. A random child abduction that went "sour" - usually a byproduct of a victim choosing to fight back, or attempting to run away. Witnesses told officers they saw two men running from Pearl Street onto Osborne Avenue. At least four of the six could easily be solved if someone would step up and give us better info because they know.. The authorities are opening a new investigation into an unsolved 2015 death as a result of information gleaned after two . Unsolved Cases - City of Columbia Police Department Unsolved Cases If you can help solve any of these crimes or think that you may know something no matter how small, please contact the Violent Crimes Against Persons Unit - VCAP at: (803)545-3525. Six have gone unsolved. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. He was more than willing to continue talking, even answering questions about his prior sexual assault conviction from 1981. There was no identification on them, but it was surmised they were traveling or 'backpacking'. Through interviews, police learned two or three men had come over to the house prior to the shooting. Remember, this is before the trial of OJ Simpson, so DNA testing was very much in its infancy. Alex Murdaugh Charged With Fraud After Asking Former Client to Kill Him. Between the 2002 indictment and this, he had accrued nearly five years of time served. He was a former Department of Transportation employee, who lived in Clarke County, Georgia, and worked at the rest stop at Hard Labor Creek State Park as a maintenance man. 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) Officers heard several shots on April 6, 2013 while at the Greenwood County Detention Center, then saw two men running up from 606 Tabor St., one of whom had been shot in the arm. They wanted to take their time, and waited until his holding period for the 1995 warrant was nearing its end to finally strike. It hasn't been updated with any of his current information. 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. Bernetta, the girls' mother, began looking around the apartment complex for eight-year old Kia. What happened to little Jeremy? On the northern outskirts of the town is the small country airport, which consists of a single elongated runway. This means that, between the time of his plea and now, Charles Wade Hampton has likely served his time and since been released. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Bullets damaged the window of a residence and shot through a TV inside. 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. 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. It seems that there may be been two suspects who were trying to rob the bank. In 1993, the skull was sent off to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC for DNA testing. Online"10 Books to Cozy Up With This December"PopSugar A popular sorority girl. Set in the middle of Greenwood itself, the reward fund started with a $2000 donation in her name. I criticize us for not raising such an uproar it would be heard across this nation .. Police were able to link Hampton to a farm owned in northern Georgia, which was owned by a friend of his. The message we should be sending far and wide is not one emphasizing our public apathy, but one which loudly reveals that the people of Greenwood County will not sit idly by while our children disappear! On this Sunday afternoon, in the middle of May, all seemed to be well. Jessica, a pretty little girl with brown hair and sparkling brown eyes went to bed on June 5, 1986, along with her two sisters. He also had a blotchy, pockmarked face, made worse from poison ivy exposure the year prior. Who was the man who found them? The County Bank is accepting and receipting donations. 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. His stepfather was watching him in her absence. - tattooed on his right shoulder. Cold cases and unsolved crimes in Greenwood, SC. 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. Unfortunately, this didn't seem remiss and then in 2007, her mother passed away and that is where the story begins. They're going to search for other skeletal remains in identification.". 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. When it was discovered by her parents that she was gone there was no trace to follow. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. 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). He has a folder in his office with the reports on each of these cases, and he said hes read some of them upwards of 15 times. Complete the Cold Case Tip Form (PDF). Murdaugh undergoes cross-examination in his own murder trial. Get Alerts Map; Browse By State; Submit a Crime Tip Square with arrow pointing upper right. Police would find out what happened to this little girl over the years, but it would take time, advancements in DNA technology, and the persistence of dedicated investigators. "I hope wherever she (Kia) is, she's safe and alive and she'll be home soon.