In the quiet town of Inman, South Carolina, the life of 24-year-old Natalie Rae Niemitalo was tragically cut short on September 25, 2017. A native of Staunton, Virginia, she was a creative soul who found joy in writing and sharing her artwork with those she held dear. Her warm presence was a light to her family and friends.
On that fateful day, however, a senseless act of violence extinguished that light. Following an argument, Natalie was shot to death at a residence on Zimmerman Road.
When Spartanburg County sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they found a harrowing sight: a 911 caller holding Natalie in the driveway. She was rushed to Spartanburg Medical Center, but succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest.
The investigation into her death led to the arrest of Lance Antonio Brewton. Evidence presented during the trial painted a grim picture of the events that transpired. In August 2018, a Spartanburg County jury found Brewton guilty of the murder of Natalie Rae Niemitalo. For his crime, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Adding to the weight of his crimes, Brewton, who had a prior criminal history that prohibited him from carrying a firearm, also faced federal charges. Nine days before Natalie's murder, he had been arrested in Greenville County for unlawfully carrying a loaded pistol. After his conviction for murder, he received an additional consecutive eight-year federal prison sentence for the weapons charge, ensuring that he would remain behind bars for the remainder of his life.
