CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - A second man is on trial this week for a double murder in Horry County in April, 2005. Iten Funeral Home | Browerville MN funeral home and cremation For the murder, he was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole, and for the charge of first-degree burglary, he was given 30 years in prison. A second man is on trial this week for a double murder in Horry County in April, 2005. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder and 30 years of jail time for the first-degree burglary charge. She also denied knowing Hill. NC man convicted in shooting deaths of SC couple - ABC Columbia David McClure who supervises SLED's involvement with the national DNA database said in 2009 he was alerted that Hill's DNA matched the DNA from the blood drops found 2005. [25], An August 2016 memo by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described how, after taking a trip to the Philippines, Cassidy was detained by officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for a secondary inspection. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 13/09/2022 by Ellie. Hembree said they are trying to extradite Hill to Horry County within the next week. Horry County police charged Hill in 2009 after his DNA sample was uploaded into a national database and linked to the Parkers deaths, according to authorities. 2021 San Jose shooting - Wikipedia But in 2009, using DNA collected from Bruce Antwain Hill, the authorities were able to match samples from both crime locations. Those witnesses helped Solicitor Greg Hembree connect Hill to the Parkers. Count on News 13 to continue to follow this developing story. Horry County police charged Hill in 2009 after his DNA sample, which was taken when he was committed to the Tennessee Department of Corrections to serve a seven-year prison sentence, was uploaded. Bruce Antwain Hill was linked to the case by DNA evidence four years after the murders of Charlie and Dianne Parker CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - A second man is on trial this week for a double murder in. Biden ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff and called the shooting a "horrific tragedy". With this new evidence, officials with the 15th District Solicitor's Office said they hope that Hill can be brought back to South Carolina quickly, so he can be tried on the murder charges. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered--Who is Bruce Antwain Hill - Sportskeeda Why are police flushing Ocean Blvd? On July 2, 1983, he married the love of his life, Cindy Wagner (Martinek), and together they purchased the family farm and raised 4 beautiful children. After years in prison, authorities finally found Bruce Antwain Hill, the real murderer. Winn grew up in Connecticut. Richardson said he did not have any new information about Gagnons case and that it continues to progress through court proceedings. Horry County Police Investigator Todd Cox said police then took another sample of Hill's DNA and had it tested and compared to the blood evidence gathered in 2005. Two minutes later, the fire department responded to the home in South San Jose, about eight miles (13 kilometers) away from the VTA facility, and discovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a gas can there. Double murder suspect sentenced to life in prison - WMBF News [14][15][16] According to police, he coordinated the fire with the shooting and ignited it by placing ammunition inside a pot on his stove, surrounding the pot with accelerants, and then turning on the stove. As a child Bruce enjoyed spending his time farming with the family and hanging out with the neighborhood kids. He was tried and convicted of two counts of murder and first-degree burglary and was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences, plus another concurrent 30 years. These stars put the "best" in BFF. Read on for more details about Richard Gagnon's conviction. Gagnon was granted a second trial and subsequently received bail. Hembree said Hill's DNA matched DNA investigators put into the database in 2005 after collecting it at the crime scene. As a precaution, bomb technicians also detonated a suspicious device at the house, using a specialized containing device that prevents the spread of shrapnel, but it turned out to be inert. Be the first one to comment on this story. The petition cited the library's lack of security infrastructure and procedures as reasons for the employees' concerns.[78]. Forty-four-year-old Richard Gagnon was convicted in the Parkers' death in 2007, but charges against him were dismissed in 2015. [62][63], As of December2021[update], the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and an outside law firm retained by the VTA are both conducting investigations into the shooting. Three murder charges dropped | News | myhorrynews.com Bruce was convicted on both charges in September 2011. [42], San Jose officials later said the authorities were not informed of the detainment by federal officials. In October 2013, Hill was returned to Horry County, but he invoked his Fifth Amendment right and refused to testify in Gagnons appeal. 2023 Iten Funeral Home. The fact that the blood was there instead of being a weakness in the case which it could be became a strength in the case because it corroborated Gagnons statement to the jailhouse informant, said Hembree. Horry County police charged Hill in 2009 after his DNA sample, which was taken when he was committed to the Tennessee Department of Corrections to serve a seven-year prison sentence, was uploaded. She was dating Gagnon at the time. His sentence is expected to be completed in September 2014 and he will be returned to South Carolina to begin his sentence here. Bambi was released later due to a lack of evidence tying her to the crime. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. [61] The agency has not yet decided whether to remodel, or demolish and rebuild the buildings damaged during the shooting. His involvement was never mentioned in Hills trial. Richard Gagnon was convicted of murdering Charlie and Diane Parker but Bruce Antwain Hill was the real killer 01 May 2018 | Monsters and Critics; Today in Soap Opera History (April 23) 25 April 2018 | We Love Soaps; See all related articles Celebrity Best Friends. Santa Clara County district attorney Jeffrey F. Rosen said that, had his office been alerted about Cassidy's detainment, they would have had enough evidence to obtain a gun violence restraining order and seize his weapons. rail yard", "San Jose shooting: Body-camera footage shows tense moments as officers approach gunman", "Remembering the San Jose VTA shooting victims", "What we know about the victims of the San Jose mass shooting", "San Jose shooting latest updates: Cassidy reportedly had been questioned by federal officials over 'hatred' of workplace", "San Jose mass shooting is now the deadliest in Bay Area history", "The Bay Area's deadliest mass shootings", "San Jose mourns after deadliest shooting in region's history: 'We can't sweep this under the rug', "San Jose union blames VTA after worker suicide", "Samuel Cassidy: Suspect identified in San Jose mass shooting that left 9 dead including gunman", "VTA shooting witness blasts management over massacre: 'The stage was set for this disaster', "Who is San Jose suspect Samuel Cassidy? Scientists with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) also explained how they tested a few blood drops found in the master bedroom of the home. They also found a few drops of blood at the crime scene that did not belong to the victims. CONWAY A North Carolina man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2005 shooting deaths of an Horry County couple. You have permission to edit this article. In 2008, Richard Gagnon was sentenced to life in prison for the crimes. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. [9][14][19], About 40 people were rescued from the area by law enforcement. Diane and Charles Parker Murders: Where is Bruce Antwain Hill Today [5][30] Six of the victims died in Building B, while the other three died at Building A. A North Carolina man, convicted on DNA evidence in September 2011 for a 2005 double murder, told a judge this week he had ineffective counsel during his trial. Gagnon was convicted in 2007, but police did not know about Hill until his mouth was swabbed for DNA when he began a seven-year prison sentence for a robbery in Tennessee. 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Hill's DNA was entered into the database at that time because he was being admitted to prison in Tennessee for a robbery charge. This led them to charge Bruce Antwain Hill with the double homicide and convict him. Prosecutors said Hills blood was found inside the Parkers home, but it was unclear what caused Hill to bleed. [9] Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded. [7] Although Cassidy did not use an assault weapon, Attorney General Rob Bonta cited the San Jose shooting in a statement opposing the ruling. There is no doubt Bruce Hill was in that house. Where is Bruce Antwain Hill now? The Diane and Charles Parker Murder Please logout and login again. Information from: The Sun News, http://www.thesunnews.com/. [1][4] It is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the San Francisco Bay Area. After years in prison, authorities finally found Bruce Antwain Hill, the real murderer. We've got you covered if you're looking for box scores and other late sports results that missed the printed newspaper because of early deadlines. As far as what role Hill played in the deaths still remains a question that Hembree could not fully answer. Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said Hills blood was found inside the Parker home, but at the time of Gagnons trial the blood evidence baffled litigators. Attorney Greg Hembree's closing speech centered on the DNA evidence. A jury deliberated just over two hours Wednesday before convicting 26-year-old Bruce Antwain Hill of Tabor City, N.C., of two counts of murder and first-degree burglary. Using witness statements and a piece of forensic evidence, authorities charged Bambi Bennett and her boyfriend Richard Gagnon for the murder. Supreme Court upheld his sentence in July 2014, charges against him were ultimately dismissed in 2015, Bar shooting in Horry County left 1 person dead, 1 injured, Castle for sale in SC has it all gargoyles, lions heads and even a sword in stone, Take a look at this nearly $2M home in Myrtle Beach, SC, Baseball player from Elon University killed in hit-and-run accident in Myrtle Beach Sunday, Off-duty Myrtle Beach SC firefighter rescues four from burning home without safety gear. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Bruce Antwain Hill, 33, of Tabor City, N.C., had filed an appeal after his conviction of the murders of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., both found shot to death April 12, 2005, in their home off S.C. 90 near S.C. 22. The couple were charged and arrested after eyewitnesses reported seeing them around the premises and authorities found blood under Richard and Bambi's shoes. Actor. Background. He had previously filed an appeal, but the state Supreme Court upheld his sentence in July 2014. Hill was also found guilty of. He received concurrent life sentences for the murders and a concurrent thirty-year sentence for the burglary. You can cancel at any time. Bambi was later released due to a lack of evidence against her, but Richard was charged with the crime. Unidentified DNA at the crime scene remained the only thing that could get Richard out, and it did. The Sun News reports 33-year-old Bruce Antwain Hill, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the deaths of Diane and Charles Parker Sr., requested a new attorney Tuesday, as part of. Richard Gagnon the now ex-boyfriend of the couples daughter Bambi Bennett is serving a life sentence for their deaths. All were VTA employees. The couple also had the motive to kill the Parkers as they recently got into an argument regarding Bambi's inheritance and her children's custody. However, the CBP agents apparently prioritized sex tourism in their questioning of Cassidy, noting "sex friendly" hotels that were mentioned in his writings and his text messages with women in the Philippines. The verdict took jurors less than two and a half hours to reach. It's place in this cardboard box that had already been marked on it. According to a DHS official, Cassidy was detained by the officers partly because of red flags regarding sex tourism, but nothing relating to sex tourism was found, and the detention did not result in an arrest or apparently any follow-up action. [5] Over 100 people were at the facility at the time of the shooting, according to the sheriff. Prosecutors called 12 witnesses Tuesday to testify about the key to the prosecution's case - DNA. Billy Terrell, the private investigator, requests Allison to take Gertrude's death certificate so that she can continue in her plan to pretend to be her deceased. "At approximately 6.30pm, an individual went on to the plaza in front of the Supreme Court building and set themselves on fire," a court spokesperson told News Nation. Bruce Allan Wagner, age 59, of Clarissa, MN, passed away peacefully at his home on September 4, 2021, surrounded by his family after his long battle with pancreatic cancer. Richardson said he had been awaiting the opinion since attending the Feb. 5 hearing in Columbia where appeals attorneys argued their stance. In his closing argument Solicitor Greg Hembree focused on the DNA evidence. 59 year old Richard Gagnon had been ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to first degree murder. New murder charges in deaths of Horry County couple. His two sentences have to flow one after the other. A free man now, Richard is married and has kids. After being unable to trace the sample, authorities sent it to the forensics lab at the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in Columbia. Bruce Antwain Hill was eventually convicted of the murders In 2008 42-year-old Gagnon was convicted of the murders and given two life sentences. He is charged with murder and first-degree burglary in the April 12, 2005 deaths of Diane and Charles Parker Sr. Hill was charged in. A testimony from a former preacher at Murrells Inlet Community Church also helped in clearing up Mullins' fake testimony. Both of his sentences were to run consecutively. can stop at any time. Gagnon's appeal was heard by the S.C. Court of Appeals after the conviction of Bruce Antwain Hill, 27, of Tabor City, N.C., in September 2011. [56] On September 2, service along the Green and Blue lines was extended southward through downtown San Jose. Myrtle Beach vacation turns to probation, manager says. She actually believes Gagnon was wrongfully convicted. Another man expected to testify Monday is Tabor City, N.C., native Bruce Antwain Hill, who was also convicted of the murders in a 2011 trial. Thus, he was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment without the chance of parole in 2008. Conway double murder case to air on ID | Myrtle Beach Sun News Copyright 2011 WMBF News. [9] It was unclear if he also legally owned the high-capacity magazines used in the shooting; they are prohibited in California unless they were obtained before January 1, 2000, and the buyer was not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. For each of the two murder charges, Judge Steven John sentenced Bruce Antwain Hill, of Tabor City, NC, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hill's trial began Monday. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder and 30 years of jail time for the first-degree burglary charge. Black Protestant church still vital despite attendance drop, Will he run? "We need the truth, and we need justice.". Associated Press. He was one of the four sons of Lorraine D. Parker and the late William Lloyd Parker Sr. Charles was a deeply religious man, being a member of Tilly Swamp Baptist Church and a member and past Master of various religious congregations. "I hope the truth will come out," Skipper said. Richard Gagnon was convicted of murdering Charlie and Diane Parker but Bruce Antwain Hill was the real killer. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. DNA links inmate to double homicide, home invasion - WMBF News Charles company was situated in a barn about 100 to 150 yards behind the Parker residence. Solicitor Greg Hembree said Bruce Antwain Hill was linked to the case by DNA evidence four years after those murders. Issues with information-sharing between agencies had been a problem in recent years and has sometimes involved high-profile incidents such as the storming of the U.S. Capitol and the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The only thing that made the case more concrete against him was the presence of a motive. Bruce is currently being held in a cell at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, where he is likely to remain for a long period of time. After all this, the authorities had only one doubt about the case--an unidentified DNA present at the crime scene that didn't have a match. His DNA was included in the FBI's national database since he had been detained in Tennessee on another accusation of the home invasion. CONWAY - A probable cause hearing over DNA evidence could lead to new information in a 2005 Horry County murder case. [16], There were ten fatalities in the shooting, including Cassidy. Based on witness testimonies and Charles blood found on their footwear, Bambi and her boyfriend, Richard Gagnon, were arrested 2 weeks later by the police. Hill was sentenced to life in prison without the . See full bio . [1] At the age of six he saw a pottery demonstration and knew that was what he wanted to do. Bruce was convicted on both charges in September 2011. To find the Sports Extra: Open either The Island Packet or The Beaufort Gazette e-Edition (free to print and digital subscribers) and look for the Sports Extra icon () in the top menu. In a gross misjudgment by the authorities and the jury, Richard Gagnon, a 32-year-old white man residing in Horry County, South Carolina, was convicted of killing his girlfriend's parents. Vivian Skipper lives near the home where the Parkers were murdered, and she said Monday she has been interested in the case since it began. Richard Gagnon was convicted of murdering Charlie and Diane Parker but Bruce Antwain Hill was the real killer . Does that make you more secure that the right sample went where it was supposed to go?"