On October 2, 2018, the life of Shelly Hazard Pickel, a 55-year-old White female resident of Lyman, South Carolina, came to a sudden and tragic end. Born in Wisconsin to Byron and June Hazard, Shelly was known in her community as a gentle soul who played the piano and cherished her family, particularly her grandchildren. Her death occurred on a Tuesday, prompting an investigation by local authorities in Spartanburg County to determine the circumstances surrounding her passing.
Following
the discovery of her body, the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office launched an inquiry into the events leading up to the fatal incident. The investigation quickly focused on the actions of those closest to her in their Lyman home. Two days after her death, on the evening of October 4, 2018, law enforcement officials made an arrest in connection with the case, taking her husband into custody.
David Stephen Pickel was identified as the suspect and was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter and the criminally negligent use of a firearm. Warrants issued at the time of his arrest alleged that David Pickel had shot and killed his wife while under the influence of alcohol. The authorities determined that his handling of the weapon during the incident met the legal criteria for criminal negligence, leading to the specific charges filed against him as the community mourned the loss of Shelly.
