Hazzard asked the jury. A second man is on trial this week for a double murder in Horry County in April, 2005. This story was originally published July 10, 2014, 4:07 PM. Richard Gagnon was convicted of murdering Charlie and Diane Parker but Bruce Antwain Hill was the real killer. More at IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro. She said others disagree with her, but she feels the prosecution has now charged the right man. 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. The people from Nixonville, South Carolina, were shocked when the fervently religious couple Diane Charles and Diane Charles Parker were found murdered at their home in April 2005. During his closing argument Hazzard raised questions about how the DNA evidence was handled. [3][15][17], A CBP report on the encounter, released in July 2021, revealed Cassidy had harbored "dark thoughts about harming" two specific people, whose names were redacted from the report; it is unclear if they were connected to VTA or among the shooting victims. 5 days, 1,000 cameras, still no shooter arrest, Myrtle Beach police cruiser stolen after officer investigates crash into city business, Conway SC man arrested for sexually abusing minor for eight years. [5], The day after the shooting, a vigil was held outside San Jose City Hall and attended by hundreds, including the victims' families and many VTA employees, who were dressed in their work attire. Bruce appealed against his sentence in 2014 but was denied. Gagnon is now serving a life sentence for the murders of Charlie and Diane Parker, who died of gunshot wounds inside their home on Highway 90, just south of Highway 22. Those witnesses helped Solicitor Greg Hembree connect Hill to the Parkers. "It's sealed. 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. On the morning of April 12, 2005, two employees of Charles Parker's office found the couple shot to death in their Nixonville home. [35][36] He had been employed at the VTA since 2001; for his first two years, he was an electro-mechanic, and he was eventually promoted to a substation maintainer position in 2014. There is no question. "Even though it is a recently developed evidence it's not evidence of Gagnons innocence.. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. [49], On June 28, the California State Legislature included $20 million allocated to the VTA in the state budget, as part of an effort to help it recover from the shooting. Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park. His DNA was included in the FBI's national database since he had been detained in Tennessee on another accusation of the home invasion. The police nabbed the alleged killer quickly, but what followed was a gross miscarriage of justice only to be corrected years on. 2023 www.fayobserver.com. The charges against him were ultimately dismissed in 2015. [19] At 6:38 a.m., responding officers heard more shots being fired. Among the charges listed are armed robbery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, possession of crack cocaine, and most recently, criminal domestic violence. Be the first one to comment on this story. She does not think Hill's trial has gotten nearly as much attention, which she believes is unfortunate. She said the crime and trial from 2005 to 2008 got a lot of attention. Jury selection was finished by 2:30 p.m., and attorneys finished their opening statements by the end of the day also. 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. Richard settled on the Carolina Coast and now has children of his own. Hill's trial began Monday. CONWAY, S.C. (AP) A North Carolina man convicted in a 2005 double murder in South Carolina has requested a new attorney, saying he had ineffective counsel during his 2011 trial. Investigation Discoverys Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent: Shattered Dreams lays down the facts and follows the complex trials meticulously, making it easier for the viewers to understand. [48] On June 22, the San Jose City Council made plans to introduce a resolution commemorating the victims' lives. [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. DNA was even more important to the prosecution's case. Myrtle Beach vacation turns to probation, manager says. Hill and 44-year-old Richard Gagnon were each convicted in the Parkers deaths. + Add or change photo on IMDbPro . Aisha Khan Since the 2005 deaths of Charlie and Diane Parker a second person is now charged with. [41] Cassidy's sister said that she suspected something happened at work on May 25 that motivated her brother to commit the shooting the day after. Hembree added that during the initial trial they knew about another person being present during the killings. 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. All Rights Reserved. As of this date, Bruce is married. 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. "I hope the truth will come out," Skipper said. Hill was also found guilty of burglary, and John sentenced Hill to 30 years in prison for that crime. Bruce Hill was in that house at the time the Parkers were killed and burglarized and robbed. "You just take stuff and throw it in the bucket," Hazzard said about the evidence handling process used by Horry County Police. [2] He received his BFA at the Artisanry, Boston University in 1983 studying with Richard Hirsh and Christopher Gustin. He was eventually convicted of first-degree murder, and Gagnon was released soon after. After a witness was found to have lied during Gagnons trial, he successfully appealed his case. [9][10] A total of 379 VTA employees were employed at the yard. In October 2013, Hill was returned to Horry County, but he invoked his Fifth Amendment right and refused to testify in Gagnons appeal. Richard Gagnon claimed that he had no involvement with the murder and that the blood under his shoes could have gotten there while he went to the house to get Bambi's keys. [19] A minute later, Santa Clara County authorities received 9-1-1 calls about shots being fired at the VTA facility. The sentences will run at the same time. "There is no question, no doubt it was Bruce Hill's blood that was in that house," Hembree said to the jury. If you're using an iPhone or other smartphone, or an iPad in portrait view, you'll find the Sports Extra pages in the menu at the upper right (look for the symbol). He is seeking an. [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. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Bruce spent much of his life milking cows and when he sold his dairy cattle, he bought his first herd of beef cattle. [61] The agency has not yet decided whether to remodel, or demolish and rebuild the buildings damaged during the shooting. In January, 2013, Circuit Court Judge Steven John ruled Gagnon deserved a new trial based on testimony about a witness lying during Gagnons initial trial. Another man has already been convicted for the murders. Another man has also been convicted in the murders and burglary of the Parkers. [5][30] Six of the victims died in Building B, while the other three died at Building A. [5] Over 100 people were at the facility at the time of the shooting, according to the sheriff. [19][21][22] Police and witnesses later said the gunman targeted some of his victims and spared others from being shot. [21], It was the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the Bay Area, exceeding the death toll of the 101 California Street shooting that occurred at a law firm in San Francisco in 1993, in which nine people including the gunman were killed. He also emphasized that VTA employees have been essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility consists of five separate buildings, including the control center for bus and rail operations, surrounding the agency's light rail vehicle storage and maintenance yard. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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. [7] Although Cassidy did not use an assault weapon, Attorney General Rob Bonta cited the San Jose shooting in a statement opposing the ruling. [6] The city announced and later passed a package of policy proposals intended to curb gun violence, including unprecedented liability insurance and compensation fee requirements for gun owners. He tried to appeal unsuccessfully again in 2017. All rights reserved. Another former employee of the business, George Carrick, said Moore spent a lot of time with the Parkers, including meals inside their home. They also found a few drops of blood at the crime scene that did not belong to the victims. [19] At 6:43 a.m., officers closed in on the gunman as he killed himself on the third floor of Building A, between administrative offices and the operations control room. 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. [64], On June 8, Liccardo and four city councilmembers announced ten harm reduction policy proposals intended to curb gun violence in the city, including two policies that would be the first of any city or state in the country: gun owners would be required to carry liability insurance and pay an annual fee to compensate the city for the emergency response and other public costs associated with unintentional gun-related death, injuries, or property damage. The police also collected samples from an unknown suspect in an unrelated home invasion near Longs in Horry County in 2006. Bruce was born to George and Connie Wagner on October 23, 1961. [73][74] Representative Zoe Lofgren of San Jose emphasized the need to pass the Enhanced Background Checks Act and the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which are unlikely to overcome a Senate filibuster. Willow Glen Funeral Home. in memory of Bruce Wagner, please visit our floral store. 14 Trees, Flowers, or Condolences have been shared with support of Bruce's family -. [45], Mayor Sam Liccardo said it was a "horrific day" for the city and the VTA, and he expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. The possible policy change could create a new council roadmap on where and how to override traffic impacts to allow development, even in outlying areas of the city. As per the authorities, they also had a spat with Diane and Charles over custody of Bambis sons and inheritance. Actor. However, it matched Hill in 2009 when his DNA was entered into a national database. However, Bruce Antwain Hill denied this in a prison interview. Earlier in the day the prosecution called three witnesses before resting the state's case. He had been arrested in Tennessee on another home invasion charge, and his DNA had made its way into the FBI national database. His sentence is expected to be completed in September 2014 and he will be returned to South Carolina to begin his sentence here. The victims names were Paul Delacruz Megia, 42; Taptejdeep Singh, 36; Adrian Balleza, 29; Jose Dejesus Hernandez, 35; Timothy Michael Romo, 49; Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40; Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63, Lars Kepler Lane, 63, and Alex Ward Fritch, 49. Your login session has expired. We affirm. Strangely, it did not match the samples from either Bambi or Richard also. It wasn't until 2009 that Bruce was finally arrested after his DNA matched the unidentified DNA at the Parkers' home while he was detained for another home invasion charge. Count on News 13 to continue to follow this developing story. They initially lived with the Parkers for quite some time before arguments about inheritance and the children's custody resulted in Bambi and Richard moving out. They subsequently found books about terrorism in his possession, along with a memo book filled with notes about his hatred of the VTA. Richard lived with Bambi and her two boys from her previous marriage. Gagnon can be considered an innocent bystander, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gloria Diane Sugar Mills Parker was born in Spartanburg in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, on December 1, 1950. [31][32][33], In August 2021, a railyard employee who had witnessed the shooting died by suicide on his first day back to work following the shooting. Blood found in the Parker's bedroom was not linked to anyone in 2005. Richardson said he had been awaiting the opinion since attending the Feb. 5 hearing in Columbia where appeals attorneys argued their stance. New murder charges in deaths of Horry County couple. 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? Gagnon said he got the blood on his shoes after he went inside the Parkers home after police and crime scene had left and removed crime scene tape. Unable to find a match, they sent the sample to the forensics lab at the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in Columbia. 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. [6], Sheriff's deputies searched the gunman's house for three days, finding a total of 12 guns, 25,000 rounds of ammunition, and a dozen Molotov cocktails. Sheriff's deputies block access to the VTA Guadalupe Division yard a day after the shooting took place. Though Bambi Bennett was let go due to lack of evidence, Richard Gagnon was convicted of the crime after another convict falsely testified against him. [12] Among other gun laws, the state has a red flag law that enables law enforcement authorities to seize a person's firearms based on a gun violence restraining order. Meanwhile, the police had been trying to find a match for the unidentified DNA profile they discovered at the crime scene. "One in 3.3 quadrillion? Cassidy had a "minor criminal history" and was charged in 1983 with misdemeanor obstruction for resisting a peace officer. Hill pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in connection with a Nov. 15, 2006, incident in Tennessee. After years in prison, authorities finally found Bruce Antwain Hill, the real murderer. Richardson said he did not have any new information about Gagnons case and that it continues to progress through court proceedings. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered--Who is Bruce Antwain Hill and where is he today. All rights reserved. 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. Biden during White House meeting", "After VTA shooting, San Jose library workers worry they're next", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2021_San_Jose_shooting&oldid=1151446405, This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 03:18. Darling & Fischer Garden Chapel. He received concurrent life sentences for the murders and a concurrent thirty-year sentence for the burglary. His two sentences have to flow one after the other. 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. Read on for more details about Richard Gagnon's conviction. Hill is in South Carolina now. Hill was convicted of two counts of murder and burglary and was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2011. 24-year-old Antwain Hill is charged with the 2005 murders of Diane and Charlie Parker. 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. The case seemed pretty straightforward, but justice took a long time to reach the Parkers. [22] Before their deaths, some of the victims had led coworkers to safety. He has been free on $50,000 bail since early 2013, a few months after he requested a new trial citing new evidence in his case. After years in prison, authorities finally found Bruce Antwain Hill, the real murderer. [10] The VTA also announced plans to help survivors and victims' families and partner with them on erecting a public memorial to the victims. CONWAY - A probable cause hearing over DNA evidence could lead to new information in a 2005 Horry County murder case. Copyright 2011 WMBF News. However, this crucial information was discovered a. They originally charged Diane Parker's daughter with involvement in the murders. "There are things i cannot talk about ethically i would be prohibited from discussing". But, before that trial could be held, the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office decided just days ago to dismiss the charges against Gagnon. All rights reserved. Father who was repeatedly slashed at his Socastee area home killed by his son, coroner says, One person in custody after weekend shooting on Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach police say, You will be caught, Myrtle Beach mayor said. [8][9] When they arrived at 6:35 a.m., they found multiple people shot. [9] Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded. 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. Bruce and Richard were initially believed to be co-conspirators of the double murder, but Bruce refused to know Richard in a prison interview. [72] As of September2021[update], a date for the gun buyback program had not been announced. A free man now, Richard is married and has kids. He had previously filed an appeal, but the state Supreme Court upheld his sentence in July 2014. CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - The jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon in the trial of a man accused in the April 2005 murder of Charlie and Diane Parker in Horry County. [28][23][29] Two of the victims were rushed to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in critical condition, but one was declared dead upon arrival and the other died later that day. Both Diane and Charles were valuable members of society; hence, it came as a shock when they were found shot to death inside their Nixonville home on South Carolina Highway 90 on April 12, 2005. The funds are intended to help the VTA "provide mental health resources to employees and their families, resume light rail service and improve safety upgrades at the Guadalupe Rail Yard", where the shooting took place. Hill was charged with first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree murder of Charles and Diane. These stars put the "best" in BFF. "It's only opened by sled personnel to test it.". Hill's DNA was entered into the database at that time because he was being admitted to prison in Tennessee for a robbery charge. If you wish to know more about the case, youre at the right place. She also denied knowing Hill. 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. Our Sports Extra pages are formatted like traditional printed sports results, and are available in our e-Edition print-replica newspapers. The gunman was 57-year-old VTA employee Samuel James Cassidy. In his closing argument Solicitor Greg Hembree focused on the DNA evidence.
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