Prosecutor will seek death penalty against accused DSS shooter

Web posted April 17, 1997

By Kathy Steele
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN - Second Circuit Solicitor Barbara Morgan filed written notice Wednesday that she will seek the death penalty against David Mark Hill, the man charged with shooting three social workers to death in North Augusta.

Ms. Morgan said there is no doubt the case meets the requirements to consider the death penalty.

``I met with the families and got reports from law enforcement and based on that made the decision with them,'' she said. ``We knew it had all the elements (for death penalty). We wanted to be sure we followed all the proper procedures.''

An Aiken County grand jury on April 3 indicted Mr. Hill on three counts of murder, three counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and one count each of assault with intent to kill, kidnapping, burglary first degree, and illegally carrying a pistol.

If Mr. Hill is found guilty at trial, jurors must agree that at least one aggravating circumstance - such as the death of more than one person, burglary or possession of a weapon while committing a violent crime - occurred in order to choose death over a sentence of life in prison.

The notice of intent to seek the death penalty was filed in Aiken County with the Clerk of Court. In a letter to Circuit Judge Costa Pleicones, Ms. Morgan asked that a second defense attorney be appointed to assist in the case.

A second attorney is mandated by law when the death penalty is an option. Aiken County Defender Regina Poteat was appointed to represent Mr. Hill, 36, shortly after his arrest on Sept. 17.

A day earlier on Sept. 16, police say Mr. Hill walked unheeded into the North Augusta office of the Aiken County Department of Social Services and demanded to be taken to his family's caseworker.

He was distraught that DSS placed his 4-year-old paraplegic daughter in foster care, police said.

Standing at the cubicle of Jimmy Riddle, who was assigned his family's case, Mr. Hill began firing a semi-automatic handgun, police said.

Two caseworkers - Mr. Riddle, 52, and Josie Curry, 35 - died at Mr. Riddle's desk. Caseworker Annette Michael probably saved her life by falling to the floor and pretending to be dead when the first shot was fired.

The body of caseworker Michael Gregory, 30, was found shot to death in the bathroom of the DSS office.

Mr. Hill was found the following morning by authorities with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the mouth. He currently is at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, S.C.