In what should have been a joyous time, just a week before his wedding, 51-year-old David Reis Perry, a Caucasian male, was found dead in North Charleston, South Carolina. The tragic discovery was made on December 18, 2024, inside a warehouse co-owned by David and his older brother, Charles Gordon Perry. David’s fiancée had reported him missing earlier that day, prompting a welfare check at the family business, Carolina Sound Communications.
When authorities arrived, they found David’s body; he had been fatally shot and also sustained blunt force trauma to his head.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on his 55-year-old brother, Charles. When Charles arrived at the scene while police were present, officers noticed what appeared to be red spots on his shoes and pants. Near the warehouse, investigators found a backpack containing a firearm. Charles admitted the bag and its contents were his, though he claimed not to have seen the gun for a couple of days. A review of the warehouse's security system revealed that two hours of footage were missing, further arousing suspicion.
A chilling piece of evidence uncovered during the investigation was a handwritten note resembling a to-do list. The note included phrases like 'burn clothes,' 'switch off security footage,' and 'hide a gun.' An employee of the family business, familiar with Charles's handwriting, identified it as his, leading prosecutors to obtain a handwriting sample from him.
Charles Perry was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. During a bond hearing, prosecutors presented the note as a potential blueprint for the murder. It was also revealed that David's emails, which included financial discussions and messages from his fiancée, were being mirrored. His fiancée told the court that Charles had been opposed to her getting involved in the family business. Charles Perry was denied bond and remains in custody. While a definitive motive has not been publicly declared by authorities, the investigation continues to unfold.
