Three individuals have been arrested in South Carolina for a murder-for-hire plot from 2004 involving a custody battle over a child
Lake City: Authorities in South Carolina have made some serious moves recently. They arrested three people linked to a cold case murder-for-hire that dates back over 20 years.
So, here’s the scoop: Kim Burgess, 56, Tonya Burgess, 49, and Mack Hanna, 60, are all facing charges related to the 2004 murder of 19-year-old Lindsey Simmons.
It turns out that Hanna and Simmons had a child together. Allegedly, he paid the Burgesses to take out Simmons so he could get full custody. Pretty wild, right?
Documents reveal that the Burgesses went into Simmons’s apartment and caused her death. She was found with multiple stab wounds just days before her 20th birthday. That’s just heartbreaking.
Hanna was reportedly seen leaving the apartment shortly after the murder, which adds to the whole situation.
All three were arrested on December 18. Kim and Tonya Burgess are charged with murder, while Hanna is facing charges as an accessory after the fact.
Interestingly, Kim Burgess has a separate charge for homicide by child abuse related to her own newborn from back in 1992. That’s a lot to unpack.
They were denied bond on December 19 and are currently held at the Florence County Detention Center. It’s a tough spot to be in.
Lake City Police Chief Patrick Miles made it clear that while they’re making progress, there’s still a long way to go. He expressed gratitude for the arrests after two decades of this case being open.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals helped out with these arrests, showing just how serious this investigation has been. The police have been digging deep, re-evaluating evidence, and talking to witnesses to get to the bottom of it all.
It’s a complex case, and they’re not stopping until they secure convictions. Let’s hope justice is served for Lindsey Simmons and her family.