Man is indicted in teen's slaying

AIKEN - Former deliveryman Robert F. Atkins was indicted Thursday in connection with the August 2000 rape and slaying of Aiken teen Jessica Carpenter.

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Aiken County grand jurors returned indictments against Mr. Atkins, 31, on charges of burglary, kidnapping, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and murder.

Authorities suspect that on Aug. 4, 2000, Mr. Atkins used a delivery uniform and van from his employer, an Airborne Express subcontractor, to get inside the 16-year-old's Brentwood Place home, where she was sexually assaulted, strangled and stabbed.

The case went without a suspect for more than two years. Mr. Atkins was arrested in January when, police said, DNA from the scene matched a sample of his DNA submitted to a genetic registry of convicted felons in Georgia, where he was serving prison time for a probation violation.

Prosecutors in February filed notice of their intent to seek the death penalty.

The indictments allege that Mr. Atkins used a "firearm or knife" during the killing and that he entered Jessica's home by using "deception, artifice, trick or misrepresentation with the intent to commit a crime."

The indictments also charge that Mr. Atkins killed Jessica "by means of asphyxia due to strangulation and laceration of her throat."

Under South Carolina law, kidnapping can include forcibly moving or confining a person against his or her will.

Mr. Atkins is represented by court-appointed public defender Kelley Brown and will be prosecuted by 2nd Circuit Solicitor Barbara Morgan. Neither could comment on the case Thursday because of a gag order issued by General Sessions Court Judge Diane Goodstein.

Reach Stephen Gurr at (803) 648-1395.

--From the Friday, September 19, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle