In the quiet town of Hemingway, South Carolina, a young life was tragically cut short on July 13, 2018. Five-year-old Savannah Ruthie Lawrimore, a White female known affectionately as 'Ruthie,' was found deceased at her home. The grim discovery was made by authorities who also found the bodies of her father, William Andrew 'Andy' Lawrimore Jr., and another family member, Cynthia W.
Lawrimore.
The investigation, conducted by the Williamsburg County Sheriff's Office and the State Law Enforcement Division, quickly pointed towards a devastating conclusion. The coroner's office confirmed that all three individuals died from gunshot wounds in what was determined to be a double murder-suicide. Investigators concluded that William Andrew Lawrimore Jr. was responsible for the deaths of his daughter, Savannah, and Cynthia W. Lawrimore before he took his own life. As the perpetrator died at the scene, there were no arrests made in connection with this case.
The community was left reeling from the heartbreaking event. Savannah, who had just graduated from the 5K class at Johnsonville Elementary School, was remembered as a sweet little girl with a bright smile. She dreamed of becoming a cowgirl and working on the family farm. Friends and family recalled her love for horseback riding, a passion she pursued at a local equestrian center. Her untimely death, at the hands of her own father, left a permanent scar on the small South Carolina town.
