In the quiet, early moments of a January morning in Iva, South Carolina, a sequence of events unfolded that would end in the tragic deaths of two men. Justin Ray Williams, a 32-year-old man from Lowndesville, was killed on January 9, 2016. His life was cut short in a violent encounter that law enforcement would later describe as a home invasion. The incident, which took place in a recreational vehicle on Lake Succession, also resulted in the death of 25-year-old Casey Waddell of Westminster.
An investigation revealed that Williams had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest.
The investigation into the double homicide led to the arrests of four individuals from the local area. Randall Matthew Simpson, 32, of Anderson, was charged with the murder of Justin Ray Williams, and with aiding and assisting in the death of Casey Waddell. Also charged with aiding and assisting in both deaths were two other Anderson men, 29-year-old Wesley Charles Malmister and 26-year-old Brandon Scott Davis, along with 19-year-old Tabitha Suzanne Roberts of Williamston. All four were also charged with armed robbery in connection with the incident that occurred around midnight on Pierce and Amy Road near Iva.
Subsequent legal proceedings brought the details of that fatal night to light. A group consisting of Casey Waddell, Tabitha Roberts, Brandon Davis, Wesley Malmister, and Randall Simpson had planned to rob Justin Ray Williams of drugs they believed he possessed. Roberts contacted Williams to arrange a supposed drug purchase at his residence. After she entered the home to confirm he was alone, Waddell, armed with an assault rifle, forced his way in and demanded Williams' property. Williams, who was also armed, fired a single shot that struck Waddell in the head, killing him. In the immediate aftermath, Randall Simpson entered the residence and shot Williams five times.
The aftermath of the violent encounter saw Roberts, Malmister, and Simpson flee the scene, while Davis ran into the woods. The investigation by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office led to the apprehension of all involved. Roberts, Davis, and Malmister provided full confessions to the authorities. For their roles in the attempted armed robbery and the resulting deaths, Tabitha Roberts and Wesley Malmister were each sentenced to 25 years in prison for two counts of voluntary manslaughter and 20 years for attempted armed robbery, to be served concurrently. Brandon Davis received a sentence of 20 years for two counts of voluntary manslaughter and 20 years for attempted armed robbery, also to be served concurrently. Randall 'Randy' Simpson, the man who shot Justin Ray Williams, received the most severe sentence: 50 years for murder, voluntary manslaughter, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and attempted armed robbery.
