On the first day of the new year in 2020, a hunting trip in the woods of Walterboro, South Carolina, turned into a devastating tragedy for the Drawdy family. Kim Daniel Drawdy, a 30-year-old male, was out hunting with his 9-year-old daughter, Lauren. The two were part of a small hunting party of four who were engaged in a technique known as 'deer driving,' where some members of the group move through the brush to flush deer out towards other hunters.
It was a familiar activity for the father and daughter, who often shared time together in the outdoors.
At approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, in a wooded area off Barracada Road, the unimaginable happened. Another hunter in their party, later identified as Sean Peterson, fired his weapon after he reportedly mistook Kim and Lauren for a deer. Both father and daughter were struck by buckshot pellets and died at the scene from their injuries. First responders, led to the remote location, found them about half a mile into the woods.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources immediately began an investigation into the fatal shooting. The incident sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, with family and friends expressing their profound grief and disbelief over the loss of a beloved father and his young daughter. The family remembered Kim as a devoted father who shared a special bond with Lauren, who was described as loving to accompany him everywhere, especially on their hunting excursions.
Following the investigation, Sean Peterson was charged with two counts of negligent use of a firearm while engaged in hunting resulting in death. In an emotional court proceeding in June 2024, Peterson pled guilty to the charges. He expressed remorse for his actions, stating that the shooting was unintentional. After the guilty plea, Peterson was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of probation for his role in the deaths of Kim and Lauren Drawdy.
