RCSD Credits Crime Lab in Solving Murder Case
Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is crediting science as what helped them solve a murder case. On Friday, Sheriff Leon Lott announced the Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab led them to the murder suspects from a case in December that would’ve become a cold case.
“We had no idea who did this case and this case probably would’ve went unsolved because these people were not connected with the victims at all,” explained Sheriff Lott.
Sheriff Lott said on December 13th, 2 young men from Eutawville confronted 2 other individuals in an armed robbery attempt at Sphinx gas station on Lee road, one of the victims was shot and killed before the suspects fled the scene.
“The only tip we had was the white vehicle that had left, investigators got on the case, they started working it and working it and did all the traditional things that you do in an investigation and we really just didn’t come up with any leads,” said Sheriff Lott.
No leads until investigators saw an opportunity to collect DNA after analyzing the gas stations surveillance tapes.
“In this particular case you could see one of the suspects in the case was having difficulty in accessing the inside of the car and when they reached in the drivers side window and grabbed the interior door lock on the rear passenger side,” explained senior investigator Brandon Rast.
The DNA evidence led them to Ibn Gadson who they arrested 6 days after the murder, along with his partner in crime Ryan Alston. Sheriff Lott said thanks to their in-house crime lab, what was deemed a cold case was quickly solved.
“That shows you the value of having our own forensic lab in our building where we’re able to get evidence and quickly turn it around and solve cases,” said Sheriff Lott.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department started the DNA lab in 2004. Since then, they’ve been internationally accredited.
