In the quiet town of Hartsville, South Carolina, a tragedy unfolded that would leave a lasting mark on the community. Kurt Russell Scholl, a 36-year-old Caucasian male, was a man known for his kindness and his passion for working on vehicles. Originally from Michigan, he had made Hartsville his home, where he owned and operated an automotive repair business.
His life, however, was cut short on December 9, 2019, when he was found shot multiple times at a residence on Racetrack Road.
The investigation into Scholl's violent death quickly led authorities to a suspect. Fred Ray Harris III, then 36 years old, was identified and apprehended in nearby Chesterfield County. Investigators determined that Harris had not only shot Scholl but had also stolen a vehicle on the same day. He was subsequently charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and grand larceny. Following his capture, Harris was hospitalized for an injury that had occurred prior to the shooting incident.
The legal proceedings against Fred Ray Harris III culminated in a trial where the evidence of his guilt was presented to a jury. After deliberating for three hours, the jury returned a guilty verdict on the charge of murder. During the trial, Harris's conduct was reportedly disruptive, leading the judge to add an additional six months to his sentence for contempt of court. Ultimately, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder of Kurt Scholl, a sentence that carries no possibility of parole, ensuring he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars for the senseless act of violence that took a beloved member of the Hartsville community.
