South-Carolina

Alleged South Carolina squatters squatters ‘without consciences’ showed cops fake lease: police

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

Alleged South Carolina squatters squatters ‘without consciences’ showed cops fake lease: police

A pair of South Carolina women were caught squatting in a home and provided a fraudulent lease to authorities, police said.

Karen Gail Smith, 40, and Megan Brooke Williamson, 36, were arrested in May after they were found inside a Sumter home on April 25 and showed a fraudulent lease when confronted by police, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said.

Police had been called to the property after its manager reported finding the lock pried open, WYFF reported, and discovered the women living inside with a 15-year-old juvenile.

Karen Gail Smith, 40, and Megan Brooke Williamson, 36, were arrested in May after being allegedly caught squatting

An investigation of the premises found a car belonging to the City of Sumter with its VIN scratched off, along with evidence that the women had been stealing from nearby animal rescue and at least two of its employees.

“It may be hard for the average person to believe there are people in this world who will lie, cheat, steal, and even worse while taking no thought about the needs of others,” said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis.

“But these suspects appear to be another example of criminals without a conscience,” he said.

Police charged Williamson with third-degree burglary for entering an unoccupied home, and both were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, financial transaction card theft, financial identify theft, and other charges, WYFF reported.

The women were arrested in May, but Williamson was released nine days later on May 30 after coming up with over $28,000 bond.

She is wanted again, however, having racked up eight additional warrants for arrest since her release.

“Our investigators go the extra mile to find the truth, and if it were not for their tenacious hard work, many of these charges may have been missed,” said Sheriff Dennis.

Smith remains behind bars on nearly $60,000 bond.

Source link

Click to comment

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Jan. 11, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Jan. 11, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 11, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Evening: 3-0-0, FB: 1

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Evening: 4-7-9-4, FB: 1

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

Evening: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 11 drawing

09-14-17-25-27

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 3-5-2, FB: 0

Evening: 8-2-9, FB: 7

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 6-2-7-3, FB: 0

Evening: 9-6-9-4, FB: 7

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 05

Evening: 13

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

02-04-31-38-40

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-19-39-47-67, Powerball: 18

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

South-Carolina

Killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh works prison job as court weighs bid for new trial

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Killer lawyer Alex Murdaugh works prison job as court weighs bid for new trial

Nearly three years after disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh was convicted of slaughtering his wife and son, he is keeping his head down and nose clean while his lawyers craft an appeal.

The imprisoned scion of a South Carolina legal dynasty is working a prison job, staying largely out of trouble, and pressing forward with his case, according to a report.

Murdaugh, 57, is serving two life sentences without parole for the June 2021 killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

He is also serving concurrent 40-year federal and 27-year state sentences for financial crimes.

South Carolina Department of Corrections records show Murdaugh has worked as a wardkeeper’s assistant since August 2023.

A wardkeeper’s assistant is responsible for day-to-day operations at a prison, such as helping manage the housing unit where inmates live.

That same month, he was disciplined for feeding information to a documentary crew and barred from phone use and canteen purchases for 30 days, according to his inmate record. He has remained infraction-free since.

His attorney, Dick Harpootlian, said Murdaugh spends much of his time focused on his appeal.

“You can talk to him, unlike normal clients who have no concept of the appellate process or how all this works,” Harpootlian told the Daily Mail. “He is interested because he is a lawyer, so we talk about where we’re at and what we think the grave issues are with the case and what our weaknesses are.”

Harpootlian said they speak weekly and described his client as being in good spirits.

“I think Alex understands he did a bad thing in stealing all that money,” Harpootlian said. “He is adamant he didn’t kill Paul and Maggie. He always has been … and when we get a fair trial, I think the jury will determine he didn’t do it.”

Murdaugh is hopeful about a new trial, his attorney said, but cautioned the inmate is “not confident of anything.”

Behind the scenes, the family dynamic appears far more strained.

Murdaugh’s surviving son, Buster, and daughter-in-law, Brooklynn, have stayed away, a source told the outlet.

The insider said Buster carries “a lot of anger about the loss of his mom and brother” and avoids discussing the case.

“Whether or not Alex killed them, he definitely did enough to tarnish Buster’s name forever, and he’s angry about that,” the source said.

Murdaugh’s appeal heads back to court Feb. 11, when his legal team and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will argue before the state Supreme Court in Columbia.

The appeal centers largely on allegations that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill tampered with the jury during Murdaugh’s murder trial.

Hill pleaded guilty in December to obstruction of justice, perjury, and two counts of misconduct in office after admitting she showed sealed crime scene photos to a reporter and lied about it.

She also admitted to promoting her book about the trial through her public office.

Hill was sentenced to probation. Prosecutors said they found insufficient evidence to prove jury tampering.

Attorneys for Murdaugh argue that Hill’s conduct tainted the trial and jurors should not have heard extensive testimony about his financial crimes.

“By the time the jury heard two-and-a-half weeks of testimony about him stealing $12 million from invalids and orphans, he was so vilified it didn’t matter what [Murdaugh] said on the stand,” Harpootlian said.

Prosecutors maintain the verdict was sound.

Former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal previously ruled Hill’s conduct did not affect the outcome.

Harpootlian said he still believes two shooters carried out the killings.

“There is strategic evidence to indicate that’s correct,” he said. “Two different guns shooting two different people … The forensics supports two people [committing the crime].”

Source link