Augusta, GA

Augusta co-author discusses investigations of S.C. official

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2024

Augusta co-author discusses investigations of S.C. official

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WIS) – Neil Gordon, the Augusta-based co-author of “Behind the Doors of Justice” with embattled Colleton County, S.C, Clerk of Court Becky Hill, is calling a pair of investigations of her “disappointing.”

The investigations, confirmed by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division this week, are looking into whether she tampered with the jury in the Alex Murdaugh double-murder trial and used her elected position for personal gain.

“The Hills and the Gordons had become very close friends during the process of producing the book, so I certainly don’t wish any ill will on Becky,” said Gordon, who’s also the publisher of the Augusta Business Daily. “The part that concerns me is for gain personally that SLED mentioned.”

EARLIER COVERAGE:

Augusta co-author to donate proceeds of Murdaugh book
SLED launches investigations into Colleton County clerk of court

That concern stems from knowledge that Hill conducted some of the book business on her county email account, something Gordon said he had advised against.

A SLED spokesperson could not confirm when the probes began, but South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson called on the agency to look into the jury tampering allegations in September, days after Murdaugh’s attorneys went public with those claims.

As part of their request for a new trial, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin alleged that Hill tried to sway jurors to reach a guilty verdict to help sell the book she would later publish with Gordon.

“We never considered the likelihood as reported to us by the jurors that the Clerk of Court would go into the sanctity of the juror room before he (Murdaugh) testified, and tell the jurors, ‘Don’t be fooled by his testimony, watch out for his body language,’” Griffin said at a September news conference.

Hill has categorically denied these allegations.

Murdaugh’s attorneys say the question before the court goes directly to Hill’s credibility, and Gordon acknowledges that took a hit when she admitted to plagiarizing a portion of their book’s preface.

“The plagiarism has not helped her credibility, but in fairness, I think the allegations of jury tampering and some decisions that she has made could be very, very separate,” he said. “I really do think that it comes down, nothing to do with the book, just whatever conversations that she may or may not have had with jury members.”

Gordon said through dozens of hours of working with Hill on the book, she never once mentioned any specific conversations that she had with jurors.

Once the plagiarism came to light on Dec. 22, Gordon said they made the decision to unpublish the book, the last copies of which were sold on Amazon this week.

Becky Hill’s co-author responds to SLED investigations into Colleton County Clerk of Court(WIS News 10)

All proceeds that he and his wife made following that revelation will be donated to charity, he said.

Gordon said he and his wife were interviewed by SLED a few months ago as part of the investigation, with the conversation focusing on when the couple first met Hill, when the idea for the book came about and when they started writing the book.

“I think they were trying to understand how much work maybe Becky did on the book before or during the course of trial,” he said.

Gordon said he does not know how much writing Hill did throughout the trial because he did not meet her until March 23, three weeks after Hill read the guilty verdict.

Gordon’s wife met Hill on the second to last day of the trial, he said.

He said he would be willing to cooperate with any subpoena.

“We have saved all of the text messages and emails and I think some of the conversations that we had as we were producing the book,” Gordon said. “For lack of better words, I’m an open book and I’m very transparent, I’m very honest and I’m more than willing to answer any questions whatsoever.”

Hill’s attorneys, Justin Bamberg and Will Lewis, did not respond to a request for comment.

The allegations surrounding Hill will be discussed at an evidentiary hearing later this month at the Richland County courthouse.

A status conference in the case is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16.

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Augusta, GA

Inmate recovering after being stabbed multiple times at Augusta jail

Published

2 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Inmate recovering after being stabbed multiple times at Augusta jail

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta inmate is now recovering after he was stabbed multiple times at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center last week, according to authorities.

Deputies say they responded to the jail on Jan. 22 and met with medial personnel at the jail.

Medical staff informed deputies that an inmate was stabbed multiple times in F Pod, according to the incident report.

Deputies say after the inmate was stabbed, his clothes, facility issued tablet and Store Call were stolen.

According to the report, the inmate told deputies he is a part of local gang, and the person who stabbed him is part of another gang.

Deputies say they found nine stab wounds and lacerations on the inmate, including on his left arm, left shoulder and his head.

While searching the F Pod, deputies found a uniform top with blood on it under another inmates mattress. They also found the injured inmate’s jail wristband under the mattress.

During the search, deputies say they also found a six inch sharpened metal object that appeared to have blood on it.

According to the report, five inmates were involved in the incident.

Officials say the inmate suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is now in stable condition.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

Published

14 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta officials say a preliminary response related to an audit of the Housing and Community Development Department was received Tuesday from Cherry Bekaert.

The audit report is not yet complete, according to the city.

After initial review, the city has requested additional information to “ensure clarity and accuracy before the process moves forward.”

“The Augusta government remains committed to transparency and will provide further updates once the requested information is received and the audit is finalized,” the city said in the news release.

In November, Augusta Commission members held a budget workshop session with much discussion about the Housing and Community Development Department.

That’s the department that left the city on the hook to pay back millions in federal grant money.

The city received more than $6 million in grant money during the COVID-19 pandemic, supposedly to help people who were in danger of eviction.

The city never spent the money for that purpose, so the government demanded it back.

The department didn’t have the money on hand, so the city had to repay it, and then some, from the general fund — $6.3 million of the original grant money and $2.1 million in penalties.

The scandal led to the exit of Housing and Community Director Hawthorne Welcher and sparked an audit of the department.

On Oct. 28, commissioners in closed executive session approved the payment of up to $32,237.32 from contingency funds for rental assistance previously approved by the Housing and Community Development Department.

This means leaders agreed to take the money from their emergency fund and use it to help people with their rent as part of a program the department had already put in place.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said at the time this was an effort to address letters that were sent out, falsely leading people to believe they were getting some emergency funds.

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Augusta, GA

Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several health events in Augusta on Tuesday are offering help to those who need medical care.

Department of Public Health mobile clinic

The Department of Public Health mobile clinic will be at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Officials say the clinic makes it easier to receive care for those who don’t have transportation.

The clinic will be at the 3109 Wrightsboro Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

You can receive sports, work and school physicals, diabetes management, WIC referrals, vaccines and more.

The mobile clinic offers private exam rooms, wheelchair-accessible lifts and modern medical equipment.

For more information on the mobile clinic and what stops it will take, visit www.ecphd.com/wego.

Annual Horizon Truckers Clinic

The fourth annual health fair for bus and shuttle driver employees with Horizon Motor Coach will be held on Tuesday at Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Street.

This event will start at 11 a.m.

In partnership with the Augusta Lions Club, the Augusta University’s College of Nursing, Georgia Prevention Institute, College of Allied Health Sciences, the Dental College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center make the event possible.

The health fair is designed to help prevent and identify health issues as well as providing mock DOT exams, dental examinations and nutrition advice.

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