On March 13, 1933, Donald Gaskins was born in Florence County, South Carolina. At a young age, Gaskins was teased and given the nickname “Pee Wee” as a result of his small body frame. Violence followed him everywhere, starting from his home where his stepfather beat him to school. At school Gaskins would fight with the other kids daily. This would ultimately lead him to become the most terrified serial killer in South Carolina.
Gaskins was 42 years old in 1975 and had been killing steadily for the past 6 years. Up until then, he had worked by himself killing people and that had helped him avoid being caught by officials. However, after he murdered three people when their van broke down on the highway, he needed some help. Gaskins called up an ex prisoner who was Walter Neely, to drive the victims’ van to his garage so he could repaint it and sell it as he mostly has done on his killings.
Gaskins was also a hired hit man. That same year, Suzanne Kipper, paid him $1500 to kill her ex-boyfriend, Silas Yates. John Powell and John Owens handled the communication between …show more content…
After searching his apartment, they found clothing that had been worn by Ghelkins, the little 13 year old. Officers accused Gaskins for “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” Neely felt under pressure while waiting for the trial of Gaskins because he knew he helped Gaskins with the dead bodies as well as the van, so Neely showed the police Gaskins’ private cemetery. In the cemetery, they found the bodies of the following: Sellars, Judy, Howard, Diane Neely, Johnny Knight, Dennis Bellamy, Doreen Dempsey and Dempsey’s child. On April 27, 1976, Gaskins and Walter Neely were charged with eight counts of murder. On May 24, 1976, a jury convicted Gaskins of the murder of Dennis Bellamy and he was sentenced to death. In an attempt to avoid additional death sentences, he later confessed to seven more
Gaskins was 42 years old in 1975 and had been killing steadily for the past 6 years. Up until then, he had worked by himself killing people and that had helped him avoid being caught by officials. However, after he murdered three people when their van broke down on the highway, he needed some help. Gaskins called up an ex prisoner who was Walter Neely, to drive the victims’ van to his garage so he could repaint it and sell it as he mostly has done on his killings.
Gaskins was also a hired hit man. That same year, Suzanne Kipper, paid him $1500 to kill her ex-boyfriend, Silas Yates. John Powell and John Owens handled the communication between …show more content…
After searching his apartment, they found clothing that had been worn by Ghelkins, the little 13 year old. Officers accused Gaskins for “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” Neely felt under pressure while waiting for the trial of Gaskins because he knew he helped Gaskins with the dead bodies as well as the van, so Neely showed the police Gaskins’ private cemetery. In the cemetery, they found the bodies of the following: Sellars, Judy, Howard, Diane Neely, Johnny Knight, Dennis Bellamy, Doreen Dempsey and Dempsey’s child. On April 27, 1976, Gaskins and Walter Neely were charged with eight counts of murder. On May 24, 1976, a jury convicted Gaskins of the murder of Dennis Bellamy and he was sentenced to death. In an attempt to avoid additional death sentences, he later confessed to seven more