On a quiet Christmas Eve in 2014, Robert 'Bobby' L. Troublefield, a 61-year-old male, was found dead in his Dalzell, South Carolina, residence. A self-employed mechanic, Troublefield's peaceful life was tragically cut short by what the Sumter County Sheriff's Office would soon confirm was a homicide. An autopsy revealed that he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The discovery of his body marked the beginning of a complex investigation that would take an unexpected turn.
As detectives began to piece together the events leading to Troublefield's death, their investigation led them to a nearby home on McPhail Street. It was here that the case took a significant, if not clarifying, turn. While executing a search warrant connected to the homicide investigation, deputies uncovered an extensive marijuana growing operation. This discovery resulted in the immediate arrests of 58-year-old Clarence “Mack” McLaughlin Jr. and his 29-year-old son, Clarence “Tray” McLaughlin III. The father and son duo faced charges of manufacturing marijuana, manufacturing marijuana in proximity to a school, and possession of a stolen firearm.
Despite the arrests stemming from leads in the homicide case, the direct connection between the McLaughlins and the murder of Robert Troublefield remained murky. Investigators suggested that clues found at the scene of the murder were thought to be linked to the McLaughlin's residence. However, no charges in relation to the homicide were ever filed against them. In the years that have passed, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office has released no further updates on the investigation. No suspects have been publicly named or arrested for the murder, leaving the case of who killed Robert Troublefield unsolved and his family still waiting for answers.
