Michael Hilderbrand

Case record: Michael Hilderbrand Sr.

Background

Michael Hilderbrand Sr., 43, was an ex-Fayetteville antique dealer. The family had lived in Fayette County from 1997 to 1999 in a two-story home in the Foxhall Farms subdivision off Ga. Highway 92 north. They sold the home in August 1999 for $184,000, a $20,000 profit, according to courthouse deed records.

The family then left Fayette in August 1999 and moved to Greer, South Carolina. In Greer, they opened another antiques store under the same name.

Other than the home, the only remaining local link in Fayette County was artwork that Michael Hilderbrand painted on the exterior of the couple's abortive antique shop at 342 N. Glynn St. in Fayetteville. According to city records, Puppy's Antiques maintained a business license for just one year. The 3,000-square-foot open shop area, adjacent to The Citizen's offices and just off busy Hwy. 85, was refurbished for the antiques trade, but domestic trouble between Hilderbrand and his wife ended the venture before it ever opened to the public.

Sandra Hilderbrand and her husband had described him as unstable and violent at times. Sandra had said she was afraid of her 6-foot-4, 300-pound husband, who she said had bipolar disorder. In court documents seeking the protective order, Sandra described her husband as "very unstable and violent at times." She also claimed that he failed to take his medicine that had been prescribed to treat his bipolar disorder, a mental illness involving episodes of serious mania and depression in severe mood swings.

Family members said Sandra had planned to escape the area and take the children to Oklahoma to live near friends and family. Sandra had made arrangements to move to Guthrie, Okla., before a friend lost contact with her after the Hilderbrands' phone number changed. Anneliese Herren of Guthrie, Sandra's best friend, said: "Every time I would leave a message [on the answering machine], he would erase it." Herren also said: "She was not allowed to keep in contact with anybody."

Herren added: "He intercepted everything." Herren further said: "He intercepted everything," describing that Hilderbrand confiscated mail sent to Sandra.

Sandra had called her brother several days before the murders and told him something was wrong, but she did not leave. Joanna Cosetti, Sandra's sister-in-law, told the newspaper: Sandra called her brother several days before the murders and told him something was wrong, "but she wouldn't leave."

Henry J. Mims, Sandra's attorney, said he had become afraid of Hilderbrand while representing Sandra, so much so that he purchased a gun to carry and protect himself should he ever be attacked.

Shirley Phillips told The Greenville News that Sandra confided in her at the Greer store and that Sandra knew her husband was going to kill her. Phillips said: "She told me that if she filed papers, he would kill her." Phillips also said: "It was almost like she was resigned to it. That's what's so sad. It was almost like 'I know what he's going to do.'" Phillips said she told Sandra to be careful, but Sandra said she had already secured the services of an attorney. Phillips said she told Sandra to be careful, but Sandra said she already had secured the services of an attorney.

The offence

Police signed arrest warrants charging Hilderbrand with three counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Sandra, 36, her stepdaughter, Caitlin Williams, 8, and their son, Michael Jr., 5. The three were found dead in their beds.

The Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans said Sandra Hilderbrand had been shot several times in the face and head and each child was shot once in the head.

Authorities believed Hilderbrand had shot the three after a judge ordered him to stay away from the family's home and have no contact with family members.

The deadly series of events began Monday, March 5. Sandra Hilderbrand obtained a protective order at 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, March 5, to keep Hilderbrand away from her and her daughter, Caitlin, and their son, Michael Jr., according to court records and news reports. Police believed that at 7:45 p.m. that same day, Hilderbrand parked his black Jeep at the rear of the home, drowned the family dog in the pool, then let himself into the Dillard Road home and shot to death his wife and the children.

On the Tuesday, March 6, after the killings, Hilderbrand told officials at his stepdaughter's school and his son's daycare that the children were sick and wouldn't be back until Friday.

Police believed that before noon that day, Hilderbrand bought a 9mm handgun from a gun shop in Greer and drove to Herndon, Va., near his ex-wife's apartment in Reston, Va. Police believed he intended to make his ex-wife murder victim number four.

After checking into a motel there, police said Hilderbrand drove to a pistol target practice range.

The crime scene at the Hilderbrands' home was discovered when Sandra's attorney, Henry J. Mims, became concerned about the family's whereabouts. Sandra had been scheduled to meet with him Tuesday, but she never showed up. Mims contacted the Sheriff's Department, and deputies went to the family's home Tuesday evening, but found nothing suspicious.

During a second visit to the home in the early hours of Wednesday, March 7, deputies found the family dog drowned at the bottom of the swimming pool. That discovery triggered a search of the house, where the bodies of Sandra, Caitlin and Michael, Jr., were discovered.

Authorities later found that Hilderbrand had gone to the antique store in downtown Greer and turned on the gas, leaving several six-inch candles burning in the shop. Upon entering the shop, deputies discovered a heavy smell of gas, and the area was evacuated. After the gas was cleared away, it was determined that Hilderbrand had left the candles burning while turning on the gas. Authorities said he wanted to blow up the store, and it was estimated that had the gas caught fire, it would have created an explosion "enough to destroy a whole city block."

Investigation

A nationwide search began after police found documents in the family's home indicating Hilderbrand might flee to Mexico.

Virginia police were later notified that Hilderbrand might be coming to the area to locate his ex-wife, and that's why he was spotted by authorities there.

Arrest and flight

After the killings, a high-speed chase began and ended when a police car bumped Hilderbrand's vehicle, causing him to crash into a wall near Dulles International Airport. As officers approached, Hilderbrand shot himself with the 9mm pistol.

Trial

No trial proceedings were provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Hilderbrand committed suicide by shooting himself the same day as the police spotted him and chased him through Virginia.

Aftermath

Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans said Sandra Hilderbrand had been shot several times in the face and head and each child was shot once in the head. The family dog was found drowned in the pool during the second visit to the home. Authorities determined that Hilderbrand had attempted to destroy the antique store by turning on gas and leaving several six-inch candles burning.