EPISODE 219: "The Fatal Confrontation": The Death of Davis McClendon

·1 hr 1 min·5 clips

South Carolina has hidden horrendous crimes for over 350 years—what evil lurks in the Palmetto State?

This episode examines the 2023 fatal shooting of a man by a South Carolina homeowner during a confrontation. Hosts Matt Hyers and Danielle Myers, native South Carolinians, present their detailed perspective on this recent and heavily requested case. The legal proceedings for this case were finalized in the previous year, allowing the hosts to cover it. The episode details the events leading to the fatal encounter at a private residence. It covers the investigation by the Lexington County Sheriff's Department following the incident. The hosts discuss the decision by Ninth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson not to file criminal charges against the shooter. They reference the "stand your ground" self-defense law as a key factor in the legal analysis. A specific and contested detail involves whether the deceased, Christopher Mullins, was armed with a firearm or a pellet gun. The hosts explore the evidence and statements regarding the weapon's nature. They describe the prior relationship and ongoing dispute between Mullins and the homeowner, which set the stage for the confrontation. The episode mentions the 911 call made by the homeowner immediately after the shooting. One insight is the hosts' examination of how a prior argument escalated into a lethal outcome. The application of self-defense law to a dispute between acquaintances is a central point of discussion. The hosts find the public's high interest and numerous requests for this case notable. The episode questions how the final legal outcome aligns with the publicly known facts of the altercation. The tone is conversational and analytical, typical of a true crime discussion between co-hosts. The style is detail-oriented, focusing on the sequence of events and legal rationale. Listeners who follow recent South Carolina legal cases and self-defense laws would find this episode compelling. Those who prefer historical crimes or avoid episodes on very recent, legally resolved incidents might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A South Carolina case built from a Greenwood dinner, a text at 8:54 p.m., and a difficult night.

Carolina Crimes uses episode 219 to revisit a heavily requested South Carolina case, and it does best when it stays with the concrete details: Break on the Lake in Greenwood, a text at 8:54 p.m., and a FaceTime asking where someone went.

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Why you'd press play

When dinner kicks off the night, the texts start to do damage.

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