In a quiet neighborhood in Inman, South Carolina, the evening of October 9, 2022, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 37-year-old Thomas Wayne Ellis Anderson and four other men. Anderson was a Spartanburg native, born on February 6, 1985. He was inside a home on Bobo Drive when the shooting occurred.
Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call around 7:45 p.m. and discovered a horrific scene.
Four men, including Anderson, were found deceased inside the residence. A fifth victim was transported to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The other victims were identified as Adam Daniel Morley, 32, Mark Allen Hewitt, 59, Roman Christean Megael Rocha, 19, and James Derek Baldwin, 49. The incident marked the largest single murder event in Spartanburg County's history.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect, 24-year-old James Douglas Drayton. It was determined that Drayton had been staying at the Bobo Drive home. Following the shooting, Drayton fled the state in a vehicle belonging to one of the victims' mothers. His escape was short-lived. The day after the murders, he was apprehended in Burke County, Georgia, after committing an armed robbery at a convenience store and leading police on a chase.
During questioning by authorities, Drayton confessed to the killings. He reportedly told investigators that he had been under the influence of methamphetamine and had not slept for four days prior to the shooting. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright stated that the home was a known location for drug use, but emphasized that this did not justify the violent outcome.
Drayton was initially held in Georgia on charges related to the armed robbery and was later extradited to South Carolina to face charges for the murders. He was charged with five counts of murder and five counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. In August 2024, the 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office announced its intention to seek the death penalty against Drayton. A trial date has not yet been set.
