In the quiet, rural landscape of Darlington County, South Carolina, a tragic event unfolded that cut short the life of Matthew Jackson. On the morning of February 24, 2019, law enforcement was called to a residence in the 3300 block of Timmonsville Highway, where a grim discovery was made. Inside the home, Matthew Jackson and another man, Harry Jackson, were found deceased, both victims of gunshot wounds.
The news of the double homicide sent ripples of concern through the community as investigators began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to the two men's untimely deaths.
For more than two years, the case remained a somber mystery, a topic of hushed conversations and unanswered questions in the Darlington area. The families of Matthew and Harry Jackson waited, hoping for a breakthrough that would bring them a measure of closure. That breakthrough finally came in July of 2021. The Darlington County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, announced the arrest of a suspect. Frederick L. Woods of Florence, South Carolina, was taken into custody in Richland County and transported to the Darlington County jail.
Following his arrest, Frederick L. Woods was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Matthew Jackson and Harry Jackson. In addition to the murder charges, Woods also faced drug-related charges from 2021. At the time of his arrest, the Darlington County Sheriff stated that the investigation was still active and ongoing, limiting the release of further details to avoid compromising the case. Information regarding the trial, conviction, or sentencing of Frederick L. Woods has not been made publicly available. The motive behind the killings and the specific circumstances that brought the victims and the suspect together on that fateful day remain largely undisclosed as the legal process continues.
