A sense of shock and disbelief rippled through the quiet, family-friendly community of Pickens, South Carolina, on the morning of June 11, 2019. Tracey Gillespie Nix, a 59-year-old female resident, was found in her home on Allgood Bridge Road with two gunshot wounds to her upper torso. A well-known and loved figure in the community, Tracey had been a barber and stylist with Head First for 25 years and was an active member of the Mt.
Bethel United Methodist Church.
The Pickens County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about the shooting and found Tracey still alive inside her residence. She was immediately transported to a local hospital, but tragically, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The subsequent autopsy confirmed that her death was the result of being shot with a small-caliber weapon.
The investigation into her violent death quickly focused on her husband, 63-year-old Gregory Benson Nix. He was the only other person present at their home when deputies arrived at the scene. Following the initial investigation, Gregory Nix was arrested and taken into custody. A. 22-caliber handgun was recovered from the residence.
Gregory Benson Nix was subsequently charged with the murder of his wife and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was booked into the Pickens County Detention Center, where he was denied bond. The preliminary investigation by the Sheriff's Office did not reveal any prior calls for assistance regarding domestic issues between the couple, adding to the community's bewilderment over the sudden and tragic event. Tracey Nix was survived by her husband, two sons, and two grandchildren.
