Two murder trials may be held

Web posted November 4, 1997

By Kathy Steele
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- South Carolina's 2nd Judicial Circuit could hold two murder trials in 1998 where defendants face the death penalty if convicted.

South Carolina court administrators said Monday tentative trial dates of Jan. 26 and April 13 have been set for murder suspects David McClure Jr. and David Mark Hill, respectively.

Solicitor Barbara Morgan has filed notice with the courts that she will seek the death penalty against each defendant if jurors convict them of murder.

Mr. Hill is accused in the shooting deaths of three Aiken County caseworkers at the Department of Social Services office in North Augusta in September 1996: Michael Gregory, 30, Jim Riddle, 52, and Josie Curry, 35.

Mr. McClure is accused of stabbing to death his father, David McClure Sr., and his father's girlfriend, Donna Autry Fitzpatrick, in January 1996. Their bodies were found inside their home in Williston, S.C.

Judge Marc Westbrook will preside at Mr. Hill's trial and Judge Tom Ervin is expected to preside at Mr. McClure's trial, said George Markert, spokesman for the South Carolina Court Administration.

Judge Westbrook is from the 11th Judicial Circuit that covers Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick and Saluda counties, while Judge Ervin is from the 10th circuit of Anderson and Oconee counties. The 2nd circuit includes Aiken, Barnwell and Bamberg counties.

Mr. Hill, 37, was arrested on Sept. 17, 1996, one day after police say he walked into the social services office in North Augusta looking for the caseworkers he blamed for putting his daughter into foster care.

Mr. Riddle and Ms. Curry were shot to death at Mr. Riddle's work station. Mr. Gregory's body was found in the bathroom. He had also been shot.

Police found Mr. Hill the next morning lying near railroad tracks within a mile of the social services office with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his mouth.

Mr. McClure, 19, was arrested in California in February 1996 at the Set Free Christian Discipleship Ranch, described by Riverside County police as a drug rehabilitation center.