Port Royal, SC Area Cold Cases

cold-case-record__Olbert

Name

Dorothy Olbert

Age

50

Cause of Death

Trauma

Info

At around midnight on february 4, 1975, 50-year-old dorothy kay olbert was reported missing by her husband on hilton head island, after failing to return from a church meeting.About 45 minutes after she was reported missing, olbert was found deceased outside her vehicle near the back gate of shipyard plantation off of north forest beach drive. Forensic autopsy revealed that olbert died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. Numerous interviews were conducted, as well as forensic examination, which was limited at the time, of evidence collected at the scene. Olbert had no known enemies and the motive for her death was not apparent.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Davie

Name

George Davie

Age

56

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

At approximately 1:00 am on october 16, 1981, 56-year-old security officer george davie was shot and killed at the port royal plantation gate. Deputies determined that the unknown subjects stole davie’s handgun following the shooting. No witnesses were identified. Investigators gathered information to suggest that davie was committed to his responsibilities as a security officer and may have refused local drug dealers access to deliver illegal drugs their customers in the plantation. This information was never corroborated.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Glisson

Name

Sarah Glisson

Age

88

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On february 22, 1986, 88-year-old sarah grace glisson was found deceased in her bluffton residence in proximity to where rose hill stands today.Investigators learned that glisson, who was legally blind, lived alone and was routinely checked on by friends.When no one had heard from glisson, deputies were dispatched to her residence for a health and welfare check.Deputies found glisson bound by household cloths in her bed deceased. In addition, her residence was found in disarray and believed burglarized.Forensic autopsy revealed that glisson died of suffocation from being restrained by the cloths.Forensic examination of evidence collected at the scene has yet to identify a subject in glisson’s death.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Olson

Name

Jennifer Olson

Age

19

Cause of Death

Blunt Force Inflicted

Info

On july 30, 1989, a jogger on the beach discovered the deceased body of 19-year-old jennifer olson in the surf near the westin resort on hilton head island. Forensic autopsy revealed that olson died as result of injuries caused by blunt force inflicted by unknown subjects in the early morning hours of july 30, and that she may been been victim of a sexual assault. Investigators learned that olsen was accompanying her family at an insurance convention at the westin, where she made a few acquaintances. Those people were interviewed in the days following her murder. Witnesses reported that one of the persons interviewed by investigators, a male subject, had been sitting with olson in the westin pool area near the beach at approximately 3:00 am; a few hours before she was found dead. That subject was interviewed numerous times about his involvement in olson’s murder, but denied any involvement. In 1992, the same subject was charged and convicted of murdering a woman in another state, where he is serving a life sentence. He remains a strong person of interest in jennifer olson’s death.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Walsh

Name

Robert Walsh

Age

30

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On february 2, 2002, sean sandlin and robert walsh, both 30 years old, were found shot to death in a storage unit located at taylor’s warehouse in bluffton.Investigators learned that the subject responsible approached the two at their storage unit and shot them multiple times with a long gun. It was believed the overhead door to the storage unit was open when the subject(s) approached and then shut after the shooting, which appeared to be an attempt to delay the discovery of their bodies. Gunshots were heard by witnesses in the residential area nearby. Witnesses reported that, after hearing the shots, they saw what they believed to be a ford king ranch pickup truck speed out of the taylor warehouse parking lot. The information provided by the various witnesses did not lead to the identification of subjects. The storage unit where their bodies were found had been rented by walsh. It was searched and revealed property that had been stolen from construction sites as far away as charleston. In a search of another storage unit at taylor warehouse that was rented by walsh, investigators discovered additional stolen property from construction sites. There is reason to suspect that walsh and sandlin had been traveling outside beaufort county to steal from home sites under construction to sell the tools and other items on the black market. In addition, walsh had been arrested and charged with extortion several months prior to the murders. As is the case with those engaged in sales of illegal drugs, walsh’s and sandlin’s activities were inherently dangerous and put them at higher risk for violence

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Davis

Name

Nathaniel Davis

Age

25

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

In the early morning hours of march 8, 2003, 25-year-old nathaniel davis was shot multiple times by unknown subjects on macphersonville road in yemassee. In the early morning hours of march 8, 2003, 25-year-old nathaniel davis was shot multiple times by unknown subjects on macphersonville road in yemassee.A passenger in his vehicle witnessed the shooting and advised that davis and she were traveling on macphersonville road on the way to a drug deal — that she had set up — when they were shot at by unknown subjects in an approaching vehicle.The passenger advised that she got out of davis’s vehicle and hid in the woods, where she observed three african-american male subjects get out of the vehicle that the shots were fired from — a green buick — and continue to shoot at davis.Although there is reason to believe the passenger in davis’s vehicle knew the subjects responsible for his death, she refused to cooperate with the investigation.The passenger was arrested and charged with trafficking crack cocaine for her role in the drug conspiracy.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Holmes

Name

Joseph Holmes

Age

68

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Just before 8:00 pm on december 20, 2006, 68-year-old joseph holmes was shot and killed by two male subjects at the sheldon convenience store, sheldon. Deputies interviewed an eyewitness to the incident, who advised that two armed subjects wearing face masks entered the store and announced it was a robbery. The witness reported that the subjects fired several shots and holmes, who was sitting at a table inside the store, was shot. The witness stated that the two subjects fled from the store following the shooting. Holmes, who had been transported to the beaufort memorial hospital by emergency medical services for treatment, later died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__Fripp

Name

Harry Fripp

Age

19

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

In the late afternoon of april 7, 2008, 19-year-old harry fripp was stabbed to death behind the sandalwood terrace apartments on hilton head island. Witnesses told investigators that they observed fripp running from a white mercedes benz occupied by three african-american men. Witnesses saw the three men exit the mercedes and chase fripp behind one of the apartment buildings. A short time later, witnesses saw the three men, who had been chasing fripp, emerge from behind the building, get back into the mercedes and speed off. Witnesses then found fripp who had been stabbed multiple times and called first responders. Fripp was transported to the hilton head hospital, where he died a short time later. Suspects were identified through investigation and forensic evidence linked one of the three to the crime. Prosecutors were consulted, but based on the type of forensic evidence linking the subject to the crime, declined to prosecute.

Agency

Beaufort County

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cold-case-record__McLeod

Name

Eleanor McLeod

Age

84

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

In the afternoon of january 17, 2010, 84-year-old eleanor mcleod was found dead in her sandalwood terrace, hilton head island apartment. A forensic autopsy revealed mcleod died as a result of ligature strangulation. Investigators learned that the wheelchair bound mcleod relied heavily on caregivers and friends to assist her in daily activities. In investigating her caregivers, one was developed as a person of interest, but the threshold of probable cause to file charges has not been met.

Agency

Beaufort County

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