Cold case heats up Does London Kelley really know who killed Darrell Epps? $1.50
SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015
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5 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 220
BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of four articles looking at the killing of Darrell Epps and the murder trial of London Kelley. The Sumter Item will make the previously published articles available on www.theitem.com. The newest articles will not be available to nonsubscribers until the following day. Who stuck a shotgun to Darrell Epps’ head and pulled the trigger on April 9, 2011? Forensic investigators say that
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final shot ended a struggle after eight attempts by his killer or killers with at least one handgun couldn’t immediately stop him from fighting for his life. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office investigators say Quinton Brown and London Kelley worked together to lure Epps to a location to rob him, and the botched robbery turned into a killing. But there was no physical evidence that tied the two to the killing — no weapon, no fingerprints, no phone calls, not a shred of physical evidence. The prosecutor’s only testimony came from the conflicting statements of
ABOUT THE SERIES √ Today: Darrell Epps’ killing, London Kelley’s conviction and dropping charges against Quinton Brown. Tuesday: How the cold case heated up with the testimony of three prison inmates. Wednesday: A third inmate gives a conflicting statement with a different scenario, and the jury convicts Kelley of accessory to murder. Thursday: After Kelley’s conviction, new information surfaces including about weapons reportedly linked to killings.
three inmates who say Kelley confessed to the killing to them. A jury convicted Kelley of accessory to murder in October 2014 but
SEE COLD CASE, PAGE A9
Tuomey staff unsure of next steps in lawsuit BY COLLYN TAYLOR intern@theitem.com Less than four days after a court decision was handed down requiring Tuomey Regional Medical Center to pay out more than $200 million, the hospital is still looking for how to pay such a hefty fine. In a decision from the U.S. Fourth Circuit of Appeals, a three-judge panel ruled the hospital, at 129
N. Washington St., must pay $237.4 million in damages and civil penalties after a unanimous ruling Thursday. Former Tuomey Healthcare System President and CEO Michael Schwartz said in January 2014 the hospital put roughly $50 million in escrow to pay the fines. He went on to say if the court-ordered payment was more than $30 million, administration
would face the distinct possibility of selling the hospital or closing. The fine the hospital now has to pay is roughly eight times as much as the amount Schwartz said
could close the hospital. The hospital will consult legal counsel during the course of the coming weeks, according to a statement it released. Brenda Chase, public relations director for the hospital, confirmed Friday the hospital is trying to figure out what to do and the situation had not changed 24 hours after the ruling.
SEE TUOMEY, PAGEA7
Celebrating the Fourth of July
DEATHS, A9 AND A11 Carolyn M. West Louise Conyers Mary D. Lee Alston James W. Yates Jr. Lillie E. McDowell Rosa L. McDaniel-Jones Josephine R. Chiles
An aircraft flies over North Myrtle Beach, S.C. in the sixth annual Salute from the Shore on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The salute begins with a pair of F-16s flying from North Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island and then followed by vintage aircraft. (Janet Blackmon Morgan/The Sun News via AP)
Melissa S. Brunson Eleanora N. Hutto Jerry L. Dennis Alma E. Dority Alfred L. Huggins Sr. Annie J. Grant
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Volunteers carry flags in the annual July 4th American Pride March in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Saturday, July 4, 2015. (Janet Blackmon Morgan/The Sun News via AP)
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An aircraft flies over North Myrtle Beach in the sixth-annual Salute from the Shore on Saturday. Shaw Air Force Base’s 20th Fighter Wing participated in this year’s event. The salute begins with a pair of F-16s flying from North Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island followed by vintage aircraft. Volunteers, left, carry flags in the annual July 4th American Pride March in North Myrtle Beach. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘Making it Grow’ host receives national horticulture award BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com “Making it Grow” host and Sumter County Clemson Extension Agent Amanda McNulty received the 2015 Zone VIII Horticulture Commendation Award from Palmetto Garden Club of South Carolina in April. Margaret Cain, awards chair of Palmetto Garden Club, said it is a big deal that McNulty received the award because she was chosen from many nominations from four states. Garden Club of America has 200 member clubs across the nation, and the clubs are divided between 12 zones. Palmetto Garden Club is included in Zone VIII, which encompasses South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
and Florida. There are 15 clubs in Zone VIII. Cain said another great thing about McNulty receiving the award is that she was selected by the National Garden Club of America. Cain said the HortiMCNULTY culture Commendation Award is given to those who make a significant contribution to horticulture. She said McNulty is deserving of the award because she hosts “Making it Grow” where she educates the public about nature, she teaches Master Gardeners and she is a Clemson Extension agent. “She educates people, which is big,” said
SEE MCNULTY, PAGE A7
Mayor: City needs more money to repave roads BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Repaving city roads has been a recurring topic near the end of the most recent Sumter City Council meetings, and each time Mayor Joe McElveen has stated that the city does not receive adequate funding to fix all of them. Sumter Assistant Manager Al Harris said the city uses funding it receives from the state gas tax to repave roads. South Carolina’s gas tax is 16 cents per gallon of gasoline or diesel. McElveen said the gas tax
is provided to Sumter County, and 50 percent goes to the county, the city receives 25 percent, and the remaining 25 percent must be spent on South Carolina Department of Transportation roadways. He said the county receives approximately $1.6 million per year from the gas tax, and based on how the funds are split, the city receives about $400,000, or $100,000 per quarter. Harris said the cost to repave a road is roughly $175,000 per mile. He said no monies other than the gas
SEE ROADS, PAGE A7