DARLINGTON — The man accused of the robbery of Gardner's Fertilizer and Farm Supplies in Hartsville and the murder of Keith Hancock waived his right to a bond hearing on Monday, Oct. 20.
Eddie Anthony Huggins, 39, was arrested in Pennsylvania on Oct. 2, and is charged with murder and robbery in the Sept. 29 beating death of 57-year-old Keith Hoyle Hancock of Hartsville.
Two of his relatives also went before Circuit Court Judge James Lockemy on charges they face in connection with Hancock’s death.
Christy Donnell Huggins, 37, of 407 Dutch St., Darlington, and Antranette Huggins, 23, of 550 W. Darlington St., Apt 118, Florence, are each charged with accessory after fact of murder.
Christy Huggins is Eddie Huggins’ sister and Antranette Huggins is his niece, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said. They were arrested Oct. 3 by Hartsville and Darlington police, as well as State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents.
Investigators said the women drove Eddie Huggins to a bus station after the murder so he could flee the area and avoid arrest.
Lockemy set their bond at $80,000 apiece and ordered them to remain in South Carolina.
Hancock was killed after what appeared to be a robbery attempt at Gardner’s Fertilizer & Farm Supplies, which Hancock owned and managed, Kemp said.
Hancock’s death is Hartsville’s first homicide this year, and its fifth in five years, the chief said.
A few people who knew Hancock saw lights on about 8:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Gardner’s Fertilizer and Farm Supplies, 317 Railroad Ave. in downtown Hartsville, not far from the S.C.
Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics and Coker College. That was unusual, so they went inside, found Hancock lying on the floor and called 911.
Hartsville police received the call at 8:37 p.m., Kemp said. SLED’s Crime Scene Unit later was called and processed the scene for evidence. Video footage of a suspect in this crime was captured on the store’s surveillance system. The store had been robbed several times in the past, so Hancock had the surveillance system installed.
Kemp said it appeared Hancock had been beaten with an ax handle and died as a result.
Hancock died between 6 and 6:30 p.m., Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee said; autopsy results confirmed he was beaten to death.
Eddie Huggins has a rap sheet that includes convictions for a long list of home burglaries, as well as grand larceny counts.
Kemp said Eddie Huggins has an extensive criminal record that includes armed robberies in Virginia. His South Carolina criminal record shows that in 1985 he was convicted of 13 counts of housebreaking, or burglary, as well as five grand larceny counts.
Two of Eddie Huggins’ sisters also face charges in connection with Hancock’s death.
Bonnie Huggins Gee, 50, of 805 Eighth St., Hartsville, and Terry Huggins, 49, of 1318 Myrtle St., Hartsville, were arrested Oct. 10 and each charged with accessory after fact of murder.
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