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

Dymia was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by 14-year-old Sam Young. A day after her mother reported her missing Dymia’s body was found in the closet of a vacant trailer. The coroner’s findings were that she died of asphyxiation. As the search for the missing girl mounted, the killer even pretended to search for Dymia with the search parties. All the while knowing the truth about her fate and where she was.

In August 2009 in Greenville it was determined that the killer would be charged as an adult. The reasoning, the crime was far more adult than that of a 14-year-old, and the likelihood of the perpetrator being rehabilitated in the five years before being released as a juvenile was highly unlikely. “It was an adult act,” a first cousin of Dhmya told The Greenville News. “It deserves adult punishment.” The family was reported to be relieved that the case would move to adult court. The killer later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and criminal sexual conduct with a minor and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Examples of Juvenile Murderers

Murder of Dhymia Woody

Dhymia was eight-years-old when she was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by 14-year-old Sam Young on June 30, 2008. She was later found in the closet of an abandoned mobile home in Piedmont, South Carolina, dead of asphyxiation. Young plead guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.