In the early morning hours of a late April day in 2017, the life of 39-year-old Crystal Marie Kuykendall was tragically cut short in Anderson County, South Carolina. A resident of Pelzer, the female victim was found deceased in a ditch at the intersection of Level Land Road and Wright School Road. An ensuing investigation revealed she had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Kuykendall had been driving her pickup truck with two passengers, another woman and a man identified as
31-year-old Zachary Earl Powell of Williamston. According to the female witness, who was seated between Kuykendall and Powell, an argument had been brewing throughout the day. The disagreement reportedly escalated over their intended destination after Powell had put gas in the truck. In a sudden act of violence, Powell allegedly reached across the witness and shot Kuykendall.
After the shooting, Powell fled the scene in Kuykendall's truck, leaving the unharmed but shaken witness to seek help from a nearby house. The remoteness of the location delayed immediate medical attention for Kuykendall. The coroner's office later determined that while the bullet missed major arteries, she ultimately bled to death and might have survived with quicker medical intervention.
Law enforcement, including deputies in tactical gear and a SLED dog team, launched a search for the suspect. Later that day, Anderson police located and arrested Zachary Earl Powell. He was subsequently charged with murder in connection with Crystal Marie Kuykendall's death. In addition to the murder charge, Powell also faced charges of grand larceny and two counts of probation violation. He was taken into custody and booked at the Anderson County Detention Center. Authorities indicated that Powell and Kuykendall were acquaintances.
