In the summer of 2015, the quiet community of Edgefield County, South Carolina, was shaken by a violent crime that has remained a troubling mystery for nearly a decade. On the afternoon of August 21, 77-year-old Walter Preston 'Walt' Winn was behind the counter of his business, Winn's Grocery, a local fixture he had owned for 16 years. The store, located on Highway 378 near the McCormick County line, was more than just a place of commerce; it was a familiar and friendly stop for many in the
area.
That day, two unidentified male suspects entered the grocery store with the intent to rob it. During the commission of the crime, Walter Winn was shot and killed. Another person, Linda Scott, was also working in the store at the time of the robbery. The assailants fled the scene, leaving behind a community in shock and a family devastated by the sudden and senseless loss of a beloved patriarch.
In the immediate aftermath, the Edgefield County Sheriff's Office launched an intensive investigation into the homicide. Investigators pursued a number of leads in their search for the two men responsible for the robbery and murder. However, despite their efforts, the case grew cold. The identities of the suspects have remained unknown, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the death of Walter Winn.
As years passed, the memory of the unsolved murder has not faded. The long-abandoned building that once housed Winn's Grocery stands as a somber reminder of the tragic events of that day. With the 10th anniversary of the crime approaching, the Edgefield County Sheriff's Office has made renewed pleas to the public for assistance. They continue to hold out hope that someone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will come forward. Law enforcement officials have expressed their commitment to bringing closure to the Winn family and serving justice for a crime that has haunted the community for years. The case remains an open and active investigation, a painful chapter in the county's history that awaits its final resolution.
