In the quiet early morning of November 20, 2021, the life of 42-year-old Vanessa Rasheda Kelson, a Black female from Bluffton, South Carolina, was tragically cut short in a hail of bullets. A mother of five, known to her friends as 'Nessa,' she was described as a bright light and an amazing mom who had already faced significant hardship that year with the death of her children's father.
On that fateful morning, while staying at a friend's home in Hardeeville, Kelson stepped outside wearing her bathrobe to move a car. It was then that she was ambushed and shot at least 15 times, a brutal attack that ended with a final, fatal shot to the back of her head.
The ensuing investigation quickly pointed to one primary suspect: her 59-year-old ex-boyfriend, Simon Temple Atkinson of Bluffton. Their four-year relationship had ended, but the connection lingered in a sinister way. Evidence revealed that Atkinson had been tracking Kelson's movements. He had learned her routine, followed her to the Hardeeville home, and laid in wait for her to emerge. A witness inside the house heard the gunfire and immediately alerted the police. Later that day, Atkinson was apprehended by Beaufort County sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop.
The evidence against Atkinson was overwhelming. He was found with the gun used in the killing, and tests confirmed the presence of gunshot residue on his hands and clothing. Furthermore, his cellphone history contained searches related to vehicle tracking, corroborating the premeditated nature of the crime. Atkinson was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
In a move that spared Kelson's family the ordeal of a full trial, Simon T. Atkinson pleaded guilty to both charges in Jasper County General Sessions Court. The prosecution highlighted the deliberate and escalating actions that led to the deadly confrontation. As a result of his guilty plea, Atkinson was sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison, bringing a measure of legal closure to the devastating loss of Vanessa Rasheda Kelson.
