In the summer of 1978, a story of violence and a desperate attempt to escape justice unfolded, tragically ending the life of a Columbia, South Carolina man. Luther Langford, a 66-year-old white male, was found in his home on June 1, 1978, the victim of a brutal beating with a baseball bat. His wife, Nell Langford, was also viciously attacked but managed to survive the horrific ordeal.
The tranquility of their home was shattered by an act of violence that would soon be linked to a string of other heinous crimes.
The investigation quickly focused on a suspect named Edward Surratt, a truck driver whose travels left a trail of violence across multiple states. Authorities were alerted to Surratt's potential involvement when he was spotted driving Luther Langford's car in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, shortly after the murder. When police attempted to apprehend him, Surratt put up a fierce resistance and managed to escape, temporarily evading capture.
A search of Langford's abandoned vehicle provided crucial evidence linking Surratt not only to the murder in Columbia but to other unsolved homicides. Inside the car, investigators discovered items belonging to a Pennsylvania couple who had been beaten to death in their home the previous year. This discovery solidified Surratt's status as a suspect in a multi-state crime spree.
Surratt's time on the run came to an end in July 1978 when he was arrested in Vilano Beach, Florida, following another violent assault. After his capture, the full scope of his criminal activities began to come to light. He was extradited to South Carolina to face charges for the murder of Luther Langford and the attempted murder of his wife. A trial in Lexington County resulted in his conviction, and he was sentenced to two additional life terms in prison, adding to the two life sentences and 200 additional years he had already received for his crimes in Florida. Years later, while incarcerated, Surratt would confess to other murders, bringing a final, grim closure to the families of his many victims.
