In the quiet, rural town of Rembert, South Carolina, the life of 33-year-old Robert LaMont DeMary came to a sudden and violent end on September 11, 2014. Authorities responding to a call at a residence on Baynard Boykin Road discovered DeMary deceased from a single gunshot wound. He was found in a back bedroom, sitting on the floor and propped up against a bed.
The investigation into the shooting quickly focused on the homeowner, 61-year-old Gregg Pickerell.
Evidence and statements revealed a complex and tumultuous relationship between Pickerell and DeMary. The two were engaged in a long-term sexual relationship, and at times, DeMary was employed by Pickerell, a horse trainer.
Within hours of the shooting, Pickerell gave statements to law enforcement, claiming a history of physical abuse at the hands of DeMary. She was arrested and subsequently charged with his murder. During legal proceedings, it was undisputed that Pickerell had shot DeMary. Her defense centered on a claim of self-defense under the Protection of Persons and Property Act, alleging that she shot him as he lunged toward her in her bedroom.
Despite her claims, the evidence presented during the trial painted a different picture for the jury. The entry point of the fatal gunshot was in DeMary's back. Following a trial, a jury convicted Gregg Pickerell of murder. She was sentenced to a term of thirty-five years in prison for the death of Robert LaMont DeMary. Her subsequent appeals, which contested the denial of immunity and the admission of certain testimony, were ultimately unsuccessful in overturning the conviction.
