5 Infamous Killers of South Carolina That Still Nurture Nightmares
By Gwen Tennille|Published March 28, 2015
×
Gwen Tennille
Author
Gwen is an author, artist, illustrator, graphic designer, mother, wife, and part-time super hero. She loves to tackle her dreams head on and takes life by storm. Coffee is her best friend and a good book cannot be beat! When does she have the time, you ask? Well...do you really need that much sleep?
Some people will argue that we are all born innocent and then there are those who will argue that some of us are just born ‘wrong.’ They will tell you that these few, although guilty of their crimes, were born to be killers. They were born to wreak mayhem on humankind. These people are everywhere; not just inherent to one state or another, to one continent or another. South Carolina is no different. Yes, they are born here, they kill here, and they die here. The following are 5 infamous killers of South Carolina.
Is it in bad taste to boast the fact that South Carolina was home to the first female serial killer? It may be, but it, in fact, is true. Lavinia Fisher and her husband, John, killed countless men in their establishment known as Six Mile Wayfarer House. As to how it was done is still largely speculation. Some say that she gave the gentlemen poisoned Oleander tea before bedtime, others argue that she gave them just a sleep agent and then her husband would stab them to death. Whatever the manner in which she and her husband killed them, the fact is, they were murdered. After being caught by an escaped customer who went to the police, she argued that they couldn't hang a married woman. To that end, they hung her husband a day before her which meant that she was no longer a wife. She now rests in Potter's Field near Old City Jail in Charleston, SC.
2. Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins (March 13, 1933 - September 6, 1991)
Pee Wee, as he was always known, was a prolific serial killer whose body count totalled more than 100+. People of Florence, SC and surrounding counties still remember him personally. And, now the jokes that they remember him telling set goosebumps down the arms.
Pee Wee was in and out of jail his entire life until he was finally caught for good November 14, 1975. But, death row couldn't keep him from killing and September 2, 1982, Pee Wee killed another inmate earning him the title, "Meanest Man in America". Pee Wee Gaskins was put to death September 6, 1991. He was the fourth person to die in the electric chair after reinstatement of the death penalty in South Carolina.
There is not much known about Lee Roy's childhood. What is known is that around the age of 30, he became the "Gaffney Strangler". Not only did he kill his victims and dumped their bodies unceremoniously, but he was egotistical enough to call Bill Gibbons at "The Gaffney Ledger" to tell him where the victims were and to let him know that there would be others. Fortunately, he was caught when he was seen in a suspicious location before he could do more damage. He claimed that he heard voices and that he had a 'split' personality, but the pleas fell on deaf ears and Lee Roy was sentenced to four life sentences. However, he was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate three years after his conviction.
I don't believe that there is not one person in South Carolina who doesn't know this name. Susan Smith became a household name when it came to light that she killed her two young sons. The reason? Because she was trying to gain the love of a rich gentleman who didn't want children.
It is reported that Susan had a very troubled childhood and fought depression. The psychiatrist claimed during Susan's trial that Susan suffered from mental health issues. Many believe that is why she was not sentenced to death. Nonetheless, she will be up for parole November 4, 2024.
Henry Wallace was born to a single mother in the small town of Barnwell, SC. He seemed to have done well in school and joined the Navy in 1985. Somewhere along the way however, something went wrong. His first victim was Tashonda Bethea in 1990, but he was never charged with her murder. He was later questioned about another crime in which he pleaded not guilty. Afterwards, he relocated to Charlotte, where in a year he killed 10 more women. Henry was finally caught March 13, 1994, and subsequently sentenced to nine death sentences.
Update: On June 5, 1998, Henry Wallace and his former prison nurse, Rebecca Torrijas, were married. His lawyers are still contesting his judgement and, as of yet, no execution date has been set.
Whether or not you believe it is nurture over nature or vice versa, you cannot deny that some people are just meant to walk certain paths in life. These five have certainly walked their paths and we are left to clean up the carnage in their wake.
Just remember, there always has to be a ‘yin’ to a ‘yang’; a good and a bad. South Carolina’s history is no different than any other state. There is good and there is…bad.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
