South-Carolina

SC sentences 2 in ‘disgusting, horrific’ case

Published

3 weeks ago

December 24, 2025

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SC sentences 2 in ‘disgusting, horrific’ case

A Simpsonville woman was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing her three-year-old daughter.
An inmate already serving a 30-year sentence received an additional 40 years for his role in the abuse.
The case was discovered during a state-wide crackdown on contraband cellphones in prisons.
Prosecutors described the case as “evil” and one of the worst they have ever prosecuted.

A Simpsonville woman was sentenced to four decades in prison for what prosecutors called one of the most evil things a mother could do to a child.

Circuit Court Judge Patrick Fant III sentenced 26-year-old Abbygale El-Dier to 40 years.

Her boyfriend, Jacob Lance, 29, who was already serving a 30-year term for a 2015 Anderson County manslaughter case, was sentenced to 40 additional years for accessory to criminal sexual misconduct with a minor.

The case came to light after South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson launched a crackdown on contraband in state prisons. Jail staff discovered that El-Dier had sent Lance dozens of videos and photos showing her sexually abusing her three-year-old daughter. The three-year-old isn’t related to Lance.

Cortney Rea, assistant solicitor with the 13th Circuit, called it the worst case she has ever prosecuted, citing the severe trauma suffered by the toddler.

“I have tried to put this into words, but how vile these acts are, words fall short. Inhuman, disgusting, horrific, but what the defendant really did to her child is just evil,” Rea said. “Everyone who has touched this case has been negatively affected by their perversion. What this defendant (El-Dier) did to this child is incomprehensible.”

El-Dier also received a five-year prison sentence for first-degree sexual exploitation. Lance was also sentenced to three years for sexual exploitation of a minor. The three-year sentence will run concurrently with his previous sentence.

According to prosecutors, El-Dier and Lance messaged each other from August 2022 to August 2023, where the two talked about abusing the child. The pair also spoke about the idea of Lance abusing the child, along with drugging them and other children. Law enforcement became aware of the pair’s conversations after someone tipped the Simpsonville Police Department about the messages.

After the tip, law enforcement arrested El-Dier, and agents from the Attorney General’s Office obtained Lance’s phone.

El-Dier pled guilty in July, and Lance pled guilty in November.

‘Suffered abuse’

In March 2018, both Jacob and his brother, Ernest Lance, were found guilty of beating Todd Cantlay to death before setting his Pendleton home on fire. Jacob Lance is serving his 30-year prison sentence at the Lee County Correctional Facility in Bishopville.

El-Dier’s attorney, Greenville-based Will Hellams, and her family accused Lance of manipulating and psychologically abusing her.

“We will always regret not catching on to how truly severe the situation was every day for the rest of our lives. We are so disappointed that our granddaughter will have to grow up knowing about these horrific events. The therapy she will have to go through will never be enough,” the victim’s advocate said in the hearing.

Lance told Judge Fant a different story during the hearing, in which he claimed El-Dier initiated the dialogue about the abuse and that he felt blackmailed to continue the conversations. He said if he didn’t, she would cut off communication and potentially alert the Department of Corrections about his contraband cellphones.

“I felt forced to go along with it because I didn’t want her calling a search team and turning it all around on me to make it seem like I’m some creep,” Lance said.

Contraband crackdown by AG’s Office

This case, along with several others, is part of an initiative by the Attorney General’s Office to punish the possession of contraband cellphones.

The State Grand Jury investigated and indicted each case in the initiative.

El-Dier’s family said they reported Lance to the South Carolina Department of Corrections multiple times, but he would have several phones at a time and would switch between them to gain access to El-Dier.

David Fernandez, assistant deputy for the Attorney General’s Office, said the detailed conversations between El-Dier and Lance about the daughter’s abuse were only the tip of the iceberg in comparison to the things El-Dier did to her own daughter.

“What has been provided today, your honor, is simply a snippet of the luminous conversation between the two. These were no fantasies; these were actions that were acted out in real time by El-Dier for the benefit of Jacob Lance,” Assistant Deputy Attorney General David Fernandez said during the hearing.

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South-Carolina

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

Published

3 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.

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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.

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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].”

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