In the quiet, early moments of October 26, 2021, the lives of two women were tragically cut short in Dillon County, South Carolina. Michelle Chavis, a 31-year-old female, was discovered deceased alongside her friend, 33-year-old Constance Kerns. The two were found in a parked vehicle on Vanderhall Road in the Riverdale community just after midnight, both having suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
The investigation into their deaths swiftly uncovered a chilling prelude to the crime.
Authorities determined that the shell casings found at the scene of the double homicide matched those from another shooting that had occurred eleven days prior on East Dargan Street in Dillon. In that incident, a male victim was shot in the neck but survived. This connection pointed to a single perpetrator for both violent acts.
The individual responsible was identified as 21-year-old Jamir Covington. Prosecutors revealed the calculated and cruel nature of the murders, stating that Covington had ominously told Chavis and Kerns that their last meal together would indeed be their final one. Following this declaration, he shot and killed both women.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Jamir Covington pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. By accepting the plea deal, he avoided the possibility of facing the death penalty. In July 2022, Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles sentenced Covington to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing, a cousin of Michelle Chavis spoke of the immense pain and anger felt by the family, noting Covington's apparent lack of remorse for his actions.
