Hartsville man killed at seed store

HARTSVILLE — A Hartsville man was beaten to death Monday night after what appeared to be a robbery attempt at the business he owned and managed, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said.

Keith Hoyle Hancock, 57, of Hartsville was pronounced dead by Darlington County Coroner J. Todd Hardee when he arrived on the scene.

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A few people who knew Hancock saw lights on about 8:30 p.m. Monday at Gardner’s Fertilizer & Farm Supplies at 317 Railroad Ave. in downtown Hartsville, Kemp said. That was unusual, so they went inside, found Hancock lying on the floor and called 911.

Sam Bowen, whose residence is across the street from Hancock’s business, was among those who discovered Hancock’s body. He’s also a former employee at Gardner’s Fertilizer & Farm Supplies.

“The door was wide open, that side door, all the lights was on,” Bowen said, “and I kept looking and looking over there, but Keith never did come back out the door.

“I step in the door and I seen the body on the floor,” he said. “... I said, ‘Call 911, body in the floor at Gardner’s!’”

Hartsville police received the call at 8:37 p.m., Kemp said. The State Law Enforcement Division’s Crime Scene Unit later was called and processed the scene for evidence.

Kemp said it appeared Hancock had been beaten with an axe handle and died as a result. Hardee estimated the time of death at 7:30 p.m.

Hancock’s body has been sent to Newberry for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death, Hardee said.

Hancock’s slaying has shocked and saddened many members of the Hartsville community. Hancock was a member of the Lions Club and Balsa Busters, according to his obituary from Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home of Hartsville. His father-in-law, Harrell Gardner of Hartsville, was his business partner.

Debbie Johnston, a friend of Hancock and his family, said she’d come by the store Tuesday and didn’t know why it was closed at first.

“... and I went home and I had a message on my answering machine that something had happened ... I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I can’t tell you anything other than there’s nothing bad to say about him or his family. They were all good people.”

Johnston said Hancock treated customers as friends.

“Keith greeted everybody with a smile and was very, very helpful to everyone,” she said.

Timmy Moody, another of Hancock’s friends, agreed.

“I’ve been buying dog food from him for, since I was about 10 with my dad, and he’s just been ... anything you’d ever need, he’d get it for you,” Moody said. “He’s the first one there for you.”

Moody said he can’t believe Hancock was the victim of such a violent crime and can’t understand why it happened.

“It’s a waste, I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. “Not much more that you can say, but we lost a good person last night.”

Gardner’s Fertilizer & Farm Supplies has been robbed several times in the past, most recently in November 2007, Kemp said.

Hancock’s death is Hartsville’s first homicide this year, and its fifth in five years, the chief said.

Video footage of a suspect in this crime was captured on the store’s surveillance system. It can be viewed online at www.hartsvillesc.com/Press.avi.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police department at (843) 383-3013 or Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at (843) 667-TIPS (8477) or (866) 369-TIPS (8477). Callers need not reveal their identities.