In a tragic and senseless act of violence, 47-year-old Abelardo Morales Baltazar of Gaffney, South Carolina, lost his life on May 6, 2015. The fatal encounter unfolded during an attempted armed robbery as Mr. Baltazar and a female passenger, Sandra Tessnear, were approached by two individuals seeking money. One of the assailants, Mark A. Earls Jr., was armed with a loaded gun and fired two shots. One of these shots tragically struck and killed Mr. Baltazar.
The perpetrators fled the scene without obtaining any money.
The investigation into the homicide led to the arrests of Mark A. Earls Jr., then 20, and his accomplice, Lyric Antoinette Morgan, 22, both of Gaffney. In February 2019, Earls pleaded guilty to murder, two counts of attempted armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. For his role in the fatal shooting, he received a 30-year prison sentence. Under the terms of his sentence, he is not eligible for parole or early release.
Lyric Antoinette Morgan also faced justice for her involvement in the crime. She pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted armed robbery and kidnapping. The court sentenced her to a 12-year prison sentence. According to the terms of her sentence, she will be required to serve at least 85 percent of her time before becoming eligible for release. Deputy Solicitor Kim Leskanic, in commenting on the case, described the event as a 'senseless murder' where the perpetrators 'took nothing and everything at the same moment.'
