South Carolina Offenders

James Roach and Ronald Mahaffey

Summary

Murder of Betty Swank

Victim: Betty Swank, 21

Murderers: Joseph Shaw, 22, James Roach, 17, Ronald Mahaffey, 16, & Robert Williams

Crime date: October 17, 1977

Crimes: Kidnapping, abduction, rape, & murder

Weapon: Firearm

Murder method: Gunshots

Murders of Carlotta Hartness and Tommy Taylor

Victims: Carlotta Hartness, 14, & Tommy Taylor, 17

Murderers: Joseph Shaw, 22, James Roach, 17, & Ronald Mahaffey, 16

Crime date: October 29, 1977

Crimes: Armed robbery, kidnapping, abduction, rape, murder, & corpse mutilation

Weapon: .22 caliber rifle

Murder method: Gunshots to the victims’ heads

James Roach

Convictions: Guilty plea to murder, rape, kidnapping & armed robbery, & nolo contendere plea to conspiracy

Sentence: Death

Incarceration status: Executed in 1986

Ronald Mahaffey

Convictions: Guilty plea to murder, conspiracy, rape, kidnapping, & armed robbery

Sentence: Life in prison

Shaw, Roach, Williams, and Mahaffey kidnapped, raped and murdered Betty. Almost two weeks later, Shaw, Roach, and Mahaffey robbed and murdered Tommy and kidnapped young Carlotta. They took Carlotta to a dirt road where all three of them gang raped her. Roach and Shaw shot her in the head. Later, Shaw returned and mutilated her body.

The assailants pleaded guilty to the murders. Shaw and Roach were sentenced to death and executed.

Details

Sam Young

Victim: Dymia Woody, eight

Age at time of murder: 14

Crime location: Piedmont

Crime date: June 30, 2008

Crimes: Kidnapping, rape, & murder

Murder method: Asphyxiation

Convictions: Guilty pleas to voluntary manslaughter and criminal sexual conduct with a minor

Sentence: 25 years

Incarceration status: Incarcerated at the Broad River Correctional Institution and expected to be released on September 25, 2009

Summary

Young kidnapped eight-year-old Dymia, raped her, and asphyxiated her to death. He left her in a vacant trailer and even pretended to help search for her. Young pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and criminal sexual conduct with a minor and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Details