Case will go to jury today

Bixby letters describe killings

February 18, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Shocking testimony electrified the Abbeville County Courthouse Saturday morning, driving the energy and emotion inside to a fevered pitch.
A series of damning letters, authored by Steven Bixby and mailed in 2004 to a now estranged romantic interest — Alane Taylor — who took the witness stand on Saturday, were read aloud to the court and the jury.
With the courtroom hanging on every word spoken, the letters described in great detail the murders of two law officers — acts the prosecution says preceded a 14-hour standoff at 4 Union Church Road on Dec. 8, 2003, by a proud defendant who also offered his own justification for the deadly actions with which he’s charged.
Bixby wrote that Sgt. Danny Wilson shoved open the door to the family home, hitting Arthur Bixby in the face.
“It (happened) in a half-second,” Steven Bixby wrote. “All I could do was point and fire and hope that it hit the target. I finished pulling him in and handcuffed him. I then read him his Miranda rights and placed him under citizen’s arrest, asking him what the hell he was possibly thinking with that (expletive) he had just done ... Dad said ‘you got him’ ... I started to cry but refocused on the job.”
The defendant claimed he and Arthur Bixby asked Wilson to leave the home at least “four times” and said he had no search warrant.
Bixby also claimed Constable Donnie Ouzts pulled out his gun after being told he was on private property.
“When the constable was shot he was four to five feet from my (concession) trailer,” Bixby wrote. “(Ouzts) was not shot in the back as reported. He was told he was on private property, but he raised his gun. The shot was self defense.
(Ouzts) was brave in his actions, if not foolish in his judgment ... he wanted to be a hero if he could.”
Bixby also wrote of having Abbeville County Sheriff Charles Goodwin and others fixed within his rifle’s scope on Dec. 8, 2003, when a standoff and horrific gun battle ensued after the shooting deaths of Wilson and Ouzts.
Bixby said he could easily have killed Goodwin — and many, many more officers that day.
“There were opportunities to have a high body count that day,” Bixby wrote. “It could have been a total bloodbath and would have been like a shooting gallery. I could have easily shot (Goodwin); I could read his lips through my scope. The female deputy would have been an easy shot, she couldn’t run. I would have gotten five or six SLED (State Law Enforcement Division officers). We could have (gotten) the tank (the SLED armored personnel carrier) and been riding all over town.”
Other quotes taken from the letters included:
*“I saw (the standoff) in a dream a month before it happened ... It’s all deja vu.”
*God was working through us.”
*“We defended our lives against hostile aggression.”
*“We are innocent I tell you ... there should be two video tapes from the (police cars of Wilson and Ouzts) ... we defended ourselves and they know it.”
*“I don’t feel that I am crazy, but who can say for sure.”
*“I surrendered so I wouldn’t have to watch dad die.”
Members of the Wilson family who spoke with The Index-Journal were unfazed and immediately dismissed the letters as a blatant attempt to influence the minds of jury members.
The few letters of the entire volume of 1,500 pages sent to the former lover and read in court were all signed “Chaotic Patriot Steve” and included no sign of remorse.

THAT DIDN'T MEAN the defendant was unemotional.
At one point, as Taylor read portions of the letter that referred to how much Steven Bixby missed his parents, the defendant broke down into loud sobs.
The developments stunned the courtroom.
And that all was before his mother, Rita Bixby, took the witness stand.
Pure disbelief wasn’t far behind her.
In an amazing turn in the double-murder trial, both the prosecution and defense rested their cases on Saturday, with the defense only calling two witnesses.
Following the announcement by Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace that the state had rested, defense attorney Bill Nettles made a motion that charges against his client be dropped, claiming the state had not provided sufficient evidence to send the matter to a jury.
Tenth Circuit Court Judge Alexander Macaulay quickly denied the motion, saying the state in fact had made its case with enough evidence to hand off for a jury decision.
Macaulay then read Steven Bixby his rights, which included the right to not testify against himself — a mere formality, as the letters that were read alleviated the defendant of needing to make the short walk to the witness stand.
The defense then proceeded with its case, which turned out to be little more than the testimony of Bixby’s mother.
The testimony of the opening witness for the defense, made by a local property title researcher to dispute a claim by witnesses for the prosecution, was ruled inadmissible by Macaulay and thrown out.
That left Rita Bixby to defend her son alone.
With her testimony, she denied ever cursing and threatening SCDOT workers Drew McCaffrey, Dale Williams and Michael Hannah, all of whom testified in court on Wednesday — the trial’s opening day.
Lead defense attorney and chief public defender Charles Grose attempted to have Rita Bixby’s experience as an amateur lawyer in New Hampshire (she said she had successfully tried several small-property dispute cases) entered into testimony for the jury.
Peace asked Rita Bixby if she had ever tried to obtain counsel in the land dispute with the highway department.
She repeatedly said, “No, I did not.”
When Grose tried to explain she had not felt the need for counsel after having successfully used the courts to address her grievances in New Hampshire, Peace replied: “Why didn’t she do that in South Carolina?”
On the day of the standoff, Rita Bixby and another son — Dennis, who has cerebral palsy — were at Steven Bixby’s Abbeville Arms Apartment. When SLED agents arrived she said, “Am I supposed to be afraid? I don’t know why you would have to point those guns at me. I come from a state where people have guns. I don’t know why I was supposed to be impressed because I wasn’t.”
When SLED agents and other law enforcement asked Rita Bixby to help coax her son and husband out of the family home, she responded, “Why would I want to help you? I wanted to be inside with them today. (Steven and Arthur) made me stay outside to tell the world why they died.”
On cross-examination, Peace asked her about a no trespassing sign in the front yard that featured an additional handwritten warning for all “government agents.”
The sign reads that violators shall be prosecuted.
“I wanted everyone to know that it included them,” she said. “That sign should still be there, too.”
Peace then asked, “Shouldn’t it say violators shall be killed?”
Grose objected and Macaulay sustained, one of the few occasions Saturday that featured a win for the defense.
Her direct testimony was then refuted by several rebuttal witnesses including Goodwin, former Abbeville County Detective David Alford and Steven Bixby’s former lover, Alane Taylor. Taylor’s rebuttal testimony featured the playing of an audio recording of a phone call between herself and Rita Bixby on the morning of Dec. 8.
The call appears to prove Rita Bixby knew something terrible was going to happen that day at the Bixby home.
“We didn’t know they planned to take our land until last Thursday (Dec. 4). Steven just told me to get the hell out of there ... Dennis couldn’t fend for himself. I didn’t want to leave (Steven and Arthur at the home),” Rita Bixby said. “I’m not made of that material. You only die once.”
The jury will hear closing arguments today starting at 1 p.m. The jury will then deliberate on a verdict, deciding the guilt or innocence of Steven Vernon Bixby.

Emotions run high in courtroom

February 18, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — The courtroom hushed. Raised whispers were soon crushed beneath baited expectations. Would this be her?
Tenth Circuit Judge Alexander Macaulay had just asked defense attorney Bill Nettles to call his next witness in defense of accused murder suspect Steven Vernon Bixby.
It wasn’t the first time the gallery was stilled into silence Saturday, and it wasn’t be the last.
Rumors had swirled during the lunch break that Rita Bixby — the Bixby family matriarch herself — could in fact make an appearance to defend her son from the stand.
Nettles began to speak, and silence reigned supreme.
“Your honor, we call Rita Bixby.”
Those whispers — pressed into submission just moments ago — returned as a restless tide crashing to shore.
Rita Bixby, dressed in a plain white shirt and dark pants, did not look like an incarcerated criminal. Instead, she walked proudly to the witness stand as a 74-year-old mother.
Only she is incarcerated, and charged with conspiracy along with her son and husband, Arthur Bixby, in the deaths of two Abbeville County lawmen.
Those who looked to her for rambling, raving testimony were very disappointed. She spoke firmly, but plainly.
Her son — on trial for his life — had uncharacteristically broken down emotionally in the morning session before her arrival at the mere mention of words provoking thoughts of his parents. Strangely though, after seeing his mother for the first time since the standoff more than three years ago (according to her attorney Jeff Bloom), and then just 10 or so yards away, Steven Bixby displayed little to no emotion.
Rita Bixby even mouthed the words “I love you” to her son during a break in afternoon testimony.
His reaction was undetermined.
But at least Steven Bixby had an opportunity to react.
It’s a luxury the family members of Sgt. Danny Wilson and Constable Donnie Ouzts no longer have in the long days since the violence of Dec. 8, 2003.
They can’t whisper to their loved ones.
They can still show that they love them, by doggedly clinging to the hope that someday justice might be done. That is why they show up each day for court proceedings and listen to gruesome, painful and often humiliating details of the final moments of their husband, daddy, brother or cousin.
Sometimes their anger boils over.
Sometimes the kettle with which they compress their stained tears and torn dreams steams over and blows loudly.
Then in a moment they are themselves again.
They are tired of the whispers.
The whispers hurt; they cut, they bite and they burn.
But maybe now they are near the end of the long road. One way or the other, Lady Justice will come calling on them.
She might not respond with the words they so seek.
Only a jury knows now.
But they will have an answer, which is more than they’ve clung to since a chilly Monday in 2003.
An answer is better than nothing. Only then will the whispers quiet forever.
Maybe then their dear Danny and Donnie will find the peace they’ve deserved for so long.
Maybe then they will sleep.

NBA star bringing ‘Magic’ to Greenwood

Empowerment center to make March debut

February 18, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

w The foundation helps inner-city communities deal with issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and raises funds for research and prevention efforts. It also serves to help young people gain academic advantages.
“My foundation focuses on improving the quality of life for youth and residents of underserved communities,” Johnson said. “The Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Center will serve as a one-stop resource center in which children can obtain skills to improve their academic performance, stay connected to the outside world and learn about computers.”
The center will be dedicated in early March.
Joe Patton, CEO of GLEAMNS in Greenwood, said the old Brewer location was chosen with distinct purpose.
“We felt that it was critical to maintain the Brewer facility because of its central location to many inner-city neighborhoods,” Patton said. “The redevelopment of the old Brewer Middle School is a perfect example of how communities can partner together to make things happen.”
The center, which is in a courtyard on the old Brewer grounds near the gym, has been completely remodeled. Bold, colorful, fresh paint covers the walls in the main room. Brand-new computers line several tables that stretch the length of the room.
Students of the center will be provided access to classes such as GED preparation, life- and work-skills development, entrepreneurship, introductory and basic finance, math, health, and credit education. They also will have access to classes such as introductory, intermediate and advanced Internet, as well as computer basics.
The facility has access to 40 computers in all.
All of the chairs in the facility have the number 32, Johnson’s old jersey number, on the back. There is a large lounge area that resembles a modern coffee shop, with plush leather chairs that have the feel of an NBA game ball. In fact, there are basketball touches in the decorating throughout the facility.
Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson spoke highly of Patton for his work in helping get the project off the ground.
“I commend Dr. Patton for all his hard work,” Nicholson said. “We believe the Magic Johnson project is a catalyst that will have a broad positive impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.”
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Patton at 223-8434.

Obituaries

William Henry Boyd

LAURENS — William Henry Boyd, 76, of LaForrest Community Care Center, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, at Laurens County Hospital.
The family is at the home of his sister, Ruth Marine, 1522 Parkway Court, Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Beatrice Doolittle

Beatrice Carroll Doolittle, 82, resident of 402 Milford Springs Road, wife of J. Carroll Doolittle, died Feb. 16, 2007, at Hospice House.
Born in McCormick County, June 14, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Maebell Reynolds Carroll. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School.
Mrs. Doolittle was a member of Durst Avenue Church of God, the Florence Hughes Sunday School Class of the church, and was a former Sunday School teacher.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are three sons, E. Lynn and wife, Carla Doolittle and Danny and wife, Revonda Doolittle, all of Greenwood and Merrill Doolittle of Hodges; two sisters, Gladys Wiley of Greenwood and Betty Jo Porterfield of Simpsonville; three grandchildren, Emmy Evans, Graham Doolittle, and Andy Doolittle; two great-grandchildren, Preston and Riley Evans.
She was predeceased by brothers, Lonnie and R.F. Carroll Jr.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday from the Durst Avenue Church of God with Rev. Richard Earl Porterfield and Rev. Richard Saxon officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Andy Doolittle, Chad Evans, Ronnie Carroll, Tommy Doolittle, Wayne Porterfield and Kenneth Brownlee.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Monday.
The family is at the home on Milford Springs Road and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 Sunday evening.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Doolittle family.

Jack Henderson

McCORMICK — James Bouknight “Jack” Henderson, 76, of Savannah Heights Living Center, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of his sister, Mary Parnell.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Judith Marino

Judith Ann Mueller Marino, 65, of 118 Heritage West Court, wife of Victor Joseph “Vic” Marino, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Ellis ‘Butch’ Payton

PLUM BRANCH — Ellis Leroy “Butch” Payton, 49, husband of Sharon Reid Payton, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at his home.
The family is at the home of Julia Ann Parks.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Phillip Skidmore

NINETY SIX — Clyde Phillip Skidmore Jr, 50, of 205 Frazier Road, husband of Reda Butler Skidmore, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was the son of Betty Skidmore and the late Clyde Phillip Skidmore Sr. Mr. Skidmore was the area manager of ISS Southern Management and was a member of Cambridge United Methodist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home and his mother of Ninety Six are a sister, Cheryl S. McFarland of Ninety Six; a half sister, Tiffany Allen of Columbia; four nieces; five nephews; three great-nieces and two great-nephews.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Gayle Summey and the Reverend Carroll Harrison officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be J. W. Creswell, Greg McFarland, Dustin Burnett, John Butler, David Butler, Joey Butler, Evan Fallaw and Johnny Clary.
Honorary escort will be Phil Crocker, Matt Kennemore, Davita Dialysis Team, Bennie Williams, James Timms, Jimmy Brock, Steve Burnett, and Tim Goldman.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends on Sunday from 6-8 p.m.
The family is at the home of his mother, Betty Skidmore, 108 Lowell St., Ninety Six.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Ida Veronica Smiley-Miller

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ida Veronica Smiley-Miller died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, at Madison Health Care Center, Madison, Tenn.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Annie Belle Woolridge

Annie Belle Blocker Woolridge, 68, of 412 Bintage Road, widow of Willie James Woolridge, died Feb. 16, 2007, at Hospice Care of the Piedmont.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Joe Blocker and Isabella Childs Blocker. She was a member of Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church where she served faithfully on the Hospitality and Usher Boards. She was a member of the Raintree Community Club, a retired homemaker assistant at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and a cook with Joe Patrick family.
She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Linda (Jeffery) Coleman of Greenwood; a son, Rev. Theodore (Margaret) Woolridge of Wilson, N.C.; seven grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a sister, Kate Ross of Greenwood; a brother, Arthur Jacob of Greenwood; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. from Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church with Rev. Julius Crawford officiating, assisted by Rev. Wanda Aulls. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The body will be placed in the church at 12:30 to await the service hour.
Pallbearers and flower bearers will be friends of the family.
The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter, 160 Cherokee Drive.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Woolridge family.
Online condolences may be sent at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Margaret Wright

TROY — Margaret Reed Wright, 85, widow of John W. Wright, of 1427 Highway 10, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at her home.
Born in McCormick County, she was the daughter of the late James and Mary Reed. She was a member of Youth Crusade Evangelistic Center where she served as mother of the church. She was a member of the Women’s Aide Society #94.
She leaves to mourn four sons, John Henry (Ruth) Robinson and Carl (Sarah) Chiles, both of McCormick, Elijah (Isabelle) Chiles of New Brunswick, N.J. and Pastor (Rose) Bobby Chiles of Promised Land; a sister, Lillie Talbert of North Augusta; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2007 at Youth Crusade Evangelistic Center, conducted by Pastor Ronnie Williams. Presiding will be the Rev. Anthony Gaskin. Assisting will be Bishop Marshall Isom; the Revs. Albert Bell, Ernest Gordon, Joseph Caldwell and Norris Turner; Brother Tyrone Chiles and Dr. Martha Starks. Burial will be in Evening Star Cemetery.
Pallbeares are deacons of the church; flower bearers are deaconess of the church and nieces. Honorary escorts are the Women’s Aide Society #94.
The family will receive friends Sunday evening at the home of a son, Carl (Sarah) Chiles, 311 Greenview Ct., Savannah Lakes, McCormick.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is assisting the Wright family.
Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Correction

Some information was not included in the obituary for Clyde Wiggleton in Saturday’s paper. The family is at the home, 1110 Anderson St., Greenwood.

Opinion

South Carolina’s children under a barrage of ‘porn’

February 18, 2007

All South Carolina youngsters these days are exposed to so much filth, from profanity to blasphemy to scatology and worse, it would be surprising - and gratifying - to run across some that aren’t. The likelihood of that, though, is remote.
Technology has changed things. It’s obvious there’s a new influence that must be addressed, an influence that older generations didn’t have to worry about. That’s the Internet. Specifically for children things like pornography, for example, are cropping up all over the place.
Children, to be sure, have been subjected to foul language since they first started riding school buses and going to school.

THEY MAY EVEN HEAR IT BEFORE that. In fact, almost anyplace children go they are met with blue language that appears to be getting by default a stamp of approval from parents and others.
Then there is sexual permissiveness and the disturbing trend that has added to. Tie in illicit and underage sex with illegal drugs and the changing attitudes of young people and adults, and it may seem to some that talking about dirty language is inconsequential. Some even say it’s a matter of tilting with windmills ..... that it’s so prevalent it would be impossible to quell.
That will also be so by default if parents and the rest of us don’t reinforce the rules of grace and embrace manners in general. It will be automatic if we don’t make a choice to resist these socially debilitating cancers on the development of character, civil behavior and talk of the future of our whole society.

MORE AND MORE YOUNGSTERS are left alone to browse the Internet. There they can find anything, including the worst kind of pornography. They can and do learn things that would horrify most parents if they only knew. Pornography can pop up anytime on the computer screen. So can a variety of devious behavior and talk that can cover everything from how to build bombs to sexual perversions.
Some parents may not think it a problem. Some even may condone exposure to coarse and graphic depiction that leave nothing to the imagination. It’s there, and children can see it all ..... unless parents make it a point to prevent it, either through block-out technology or by personal oversight and regulation.
Doubtful? Consider: Forty-two percent of Internet users ages 10 to 17 said they had seen online pornography ..... whether they wanted to or not. It was simply there as they browsed.