Investigators pay respects to slain veteran at Fla. funeral

FLORENCE — Friends, family and even strangers spent Monday remembering one of America’s heroes.

World War II veteran Clair C. Chaffin was shot to death June 8 as he packed his car to leave the Thunderbird Inn in Florence.

Chaffin, of Archer, Fla., was 83. He fought at Iwo Jima and Saipan, and earned the Silver Star in his lifetime.

Although Chaffin’s life was taken during an attempted robbery, it was what happened to him before that day that made a lasting impression on those working on the case. He made an impact on the entire community as well as local law enforcement, all of whom recognized the great service he gave to the country.

Florence County Sheriff’s Office investigators were so moved by Chaffin’s family and the story of his life, they felt it fitting to fly hundreds of miles to pay their final respects Monday.

“A decorated veteran, who served his country and gave his life — a majority of his life — for this country, 83 years old and had been through what he had to go through and then had to come back to this country and die like he did, it’s unacceptable,” Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said.

Powers Aviation officials made the flight possible for the investigators, providing the plane and pilot for the trip to Gainesville, Fla., for Chaffin’s funeral.

“We just felt like we needed to be with them. They asked us, they wanted us to be with them, they wanted us to be part of this ceremony,” Boone said of Chaffin’s family.

“There will be Naval and Marine ceremonies as well during this funeral. I think it’s gonna be totally impressive, and Clair Chaffin definitely deserves this,” Boone said before boarding the plane Monday morning.

Chaffin’s funeral service included full military honors. There also was a military escort for the services and procession.

Investigators said it was Chaffin’s family who honored them the most by allowing them to participate in the farewell to the veteran.

“We were just doing our jobs when we helped solve this crime ... he served his country, you know, we thought it was a great deed what he did for this country and it also was a great deed, I guess for what we did for him and his family, to give them some kind of closure,” Florence County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Thomas McFadden said.

Sylvester Davis, 25, and 17-year-old Dondre Scott, 17, both of Darlington, were soon arrested and are charged with murder in Chaffin’s death.

Florence County Magistrate Belinda Timmons denied bond for both men June 11 on the three armed robbery charges they also face, saying she felt they are a danger to society.

Timmons said the suspects will be arraigned in general sessions court Aug. 7 for the murder charge.

Prosecutors are considering the option of pursuing this as a death penalty case, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III said. The U.S. Supreme Court prohibits the death penalty being sought against someone under the age of 18, however.

Twelfth Circuit attorneys would have to determine who exactly pulled the trigger, then will decide how to pursue the case, Clements said.