PCSO News Center

07-14-17 

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has continued to investigate the tragic deaths of three victims found inside a black colored Jeep SUV that was parked at the Greenville Pickens Speedway near Hwy 124 and Calhoun Memorial Hwy.

Late Thursday afternoon, a description of the vehicle had been provided to the Sheriff’s Office from Greenville authorities shortly after officers from the Greenville City Police Department located a deceased female that had been shot at her vehicle in a downtown parking garage.

A witness provided the description of the suspect vehicle to Greenville Police to include a license plate number that provided additional leads linking back to Pickens County.

As law enforcement agencies within Pickens County searched various locations for the vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office received information from a passing motorist that a dark colored SUV matching the description was backed up to a chain-link fence at the Greenville Pickens Speedway.

Pickens County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene just before 7:00pm and as they approached the SUV they observed an adult female and two small children inside the vehicle that were unresponsive.

The vehicle was running and was locked thus requiring the deputies to break the driver’s side window to gain access to the interior.

All three occupants were determined to be deceased at the scene with wounds that were visually consistent with gunshots. A .40 caliber, semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the interior of the vehicle.

As the investigation continued throughout most of the night, it was determined that the adult female is the mother of the two deceased children whom have different biological fathers.

The mother was currently separated from her husband who is the father of one of the two children.

Forensic detectives from the Sheriff’s Office were in attendance at the autopsies conducted on the three Pickens County victims earlier today. Evidence and observations from those examinations have confirmed that all three victims were shot one time near the neck/head area.

The Sheriff’s Office is still collecting information and conducting interviews this afternoon. The investigation will remain open and active until further forensic testing can be completed and all interviews have been conducted.

The investigation thus far supports the theory that the motive and connection between the two incidents stems from the broken marriage and the subsequent domestic challenges associated with that break up.

The Greenville victim is not a relative to the three victims found deceased in Pickens County. Additional questions regarding the relationship between the Greenville victim and the three victims located in Pickens County should be directed to the Greenville Police Department.

Inquiries regarding the identities of the deceased parties should be directed to the Pickens County Coroner’s Office.

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07-07-17

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has charged two juveniles this afternoon following the investigation into the circumstances surrounding a fire on Thursday, July 6, 2017, that destroyed an abandoned mill commonly referred to as the Cateechee Mill.

The Sheriff’s Office first received reports of the structure fire at approximately 1:30pm on Thursday afternoon necessitating the response of multiple fire departments in the effort to extinguish the flames that had fully engulfed the entire facility.

Detectives from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office investigated several leads that ultimately led to two juveniles that have been identified and charged with the intentional setting of the fire.

Both juveniles have cooperated with authorities and the investigation has determined that the fire occurred after a paper document was lit with a cigarette lighter and thrown onto the floor where the fire ultimately was able to grow and spread throughout the structure.

Due to the age of both male, juveniles who are currently between the ages of 8 and 14 years old they have been released to the custody of their parents pending court proceedings that will be scheduled and heard in Family Court for the charges of Arson 3^rd Degree and Unlawful Entry into an Enclosed Area.

Sheriff Rick Clark stated…

“Thankfully, no one was physically injured as a result of this incident. The public should not lose sight of the fact that Pickens County is blessed to have a population of adolescents that will one day mature and become outstanding citizens for our communities.

These two kids obviously made a poor choice and they will have to be held accountable for their actions but that does not prevent us from lifting them in prayer in hopes that others will learn from this clear example of poor judgment”.

The Sheriff’s Office does not expect any additional arrests based on the investigation thus far.

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07-06-17

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is currently assisting multiple fire departments from Pickens County that have responded to a structure fire at the old Cateechee Mill on Cateechee Trail not far from the City of Norris.

An area resident called at approximately 1:30pm this afternoon and stated that the building was on fire and that the fire department needed to be notified.

Resources from the following fire departments were on scene attempting to contain and beat down the fire:

• Norris Fire Department
• Central Fire Department
• Six Mile Fire Department
• Liberty Fire Department
• Clemson University Fire Department

The old facility is not operational and the extent of damages is unknown at the time of this release but expected to be substantial. The nature and cause of fire is unknown as the investigation is preliminary in nature.

The Sheriff’s Office has received information that several children were seen in the street not far from the facility near the time when the fire may have started but it is unknown as to whether they are in any way connected to the incident.

The Sheriff’s Office is assisting the resources of the fire services and there is no additional information to be released at this stage into the investigation.

Carl Benton Moore III

Media Release_1 Pinedale Dr. (Kidnapping-CSC) case_2017-15019 June 2017

This afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office has been receiving numerous phone calls regarding a flyer that has been distributed and placed on homeowner mailboxes throughout the county. The content of the flyer refers to information from a Pickens County Ordinance pertaining to animals.

The Sheriff’s Office did not distribute these flyers and the identity of the person(s) that did is unknown. The Sheriff’s Office does not disseminate information by placing flyers on mailboxes and we do not recommend that anyone rely solely on any information that is provided to you by an unknown source.

The contents of county ordinances can be researched on county websites.

Herman William McDonald

Media Release#1 #111 Mauldin Rd (Domestic Violence 1st Degree) case#2017-14540 June 2017

Joey William Woodall

Media Release#1 Threatening Life-Public Official (Joey William Woodall) case#2017-13728 June 2017

06-07-17

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, along with volunteer searchers, located a deceased person earlier today just before noon. Canines commonly referred to as “cadaver dogs” that are specifically trained in the detection of deceased animals to include humans were utilized in the search that occurred early this morning.

The victim was located in an extremely remote, wooded area approximately one half mile from the residence where a man was reported missing last week to authorities on June 2, 2017. That residence is located at 580 Little Estatoee Rd.

Gabriel Bradley Hein (28yoa) was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office after he was last seen walking away from his parents’ home on the evening of Wednesday, May 31, 2017.  He was exhibiting signs and symptoms characteristic of paranoia and making strange statements that “people were out to get him”.

The remains of a decomposed male that was found today is believed to be Mr. Hein based on several pieces of evidence found at the scene. A handgun was also recovered near the victim’s body and preliminary investigation is the victim may have died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Sheriff Rick Clark was on the scene during the search and responded to the remote site where the victim was recovered.

Sheriff Clark stated…

“We had never given up hope that we could find Mr. Hein alive and well so that we could reunite him with his family and get him the help that he needed.  

Unfortunately, it appears that in the early stages of his disappearance he chose to end his life. Our hearts and prayers continue to remain with his family during this heartbreaking discovery today.” 

Further examination of the body at the request of the Coroner’s Office will be conducted to absolutely confirm the identity of the deceased. The investigation remains active and is still on-going pending the results of that examination.

 

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06-02-17

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting an investigation into the disappearance of a man that walked away from his parents’ home on the evening of Wednesday, May 31, 2017, and has not been seen since.

Gabriel Bradley Hein is described as a W/M, 28yoa, 5’11”, approximately 200 plus lbs, brown hair with a brown beard and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, brown or tan shorts, gray colored “Croc” shoes and was in possession of a gray colored backpack.

Mr. Hein may possibly be in the need for medical care due to recent episodes of paranoia and statements made to his family that he felt that people were trying to take his life.

The Sheriff’s Office along with the assistance from other county and volunteer resources has conducted a foot search of the immediate area where he was last seen; however, all attempts to locate Mr. Hein have been unsuccessful.

Members of the public are encouraged to notify local law enforcement by calling 911 if they see Mr. Hein and avoid any effort to make contact or detain him.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with other information regarding the location of Mr. Hein to please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (864) 898-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.

Please see the attached photos of Gabriel Bradley Hein.

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Melanie Christine Shove

Media Release#1 #220 Ike Rd (Attempted Murder) case#2017-12830 May 2017