In the quiet community of Hopkins, South Carolina, a tragic event unfolded on the evening of Monday, April 20, 2020, forever altering the lives of the Richbow family. At approximately 8:40 p.m., deputies from the Richland County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to a residence on South Partridge Circle following reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered a scene of violence and despair. Two women, 76-year-old Sarah Mae Richbow and her 28-year-old granddaughter, Kiara A.
Richbow, were found inside the home, both suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.
Emergency medical services rushed the two women to a nearby hospital, but their injuries proved to be fatal. Both Sarah and Kiara succumbed to their wounds in the early hours of Tuesday, April 21, 2020. The incident left the community in shock and mourning the loss of two of its members. The investigation into the double homicide quickly pointed to one individual: 28-year-old Dontrell Henry Rufus. It was revealed that Rufus was the ex-boyfriend of Kiara Richbow and the father of her child.
The events leading up to the fatal shooting began when Rufus arrived at the Richbow residence uninvited. An argument ensued, and despite the presence of other family members, including the couple's young child, the situation escalated dramatically. Rufus, armed and dangerous, forced his way into the home and opened fire, striking both Kiara and her grandmother, Sarah. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Rufus fled the scene, sparking an intensive manhunt by law enforcement. The Richland County Sheriff's Department alerted the public that he was considered armed and dangerous.
The search for Dontrell Rufus came to an end the following morning. Thanks to a tip from a vigilant member of the community who reported a suspicious person, deputies were able to locate and apprehend Rufus on Broad River Road. He was taken into custody without incident and subsequently charged with two counts of murder. The motive for this senseless act of violence was rooted in a domestic dispute with his former partner, Kiara.
In September 2025, justice was served for Sarah and Kiara Richbow. A Richland County jury found Dontrell Rufus guilty on two counts of murder and one count of first-degree burglary. For his crimes, the judge handed down a sentence of three life terms in prison, ensuring that he would be held accountable for the devastating loss he inflicted upon the Richbow family and the community. The conviction brought a close to a long and painful legal process, but the memory of Sarah and Kiara will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.
