Johnny Satterwhite

Background

Johnny Satterwhite was a millworker and a resident of Laurens, South Carolina. He and his wife, Bertha Satterwhite, had been married about 12 years and had been separated for at least a week. After the collapse of his 12-year marriage, Johnny criptically wished his estranged wife a merry Christmas. He also told her that she would be alone in '97. Johnny asked his employee to remove Bertha from his life insurance policy. He and Bertha were separated for a week.

The offence

Sometime during the weekend of November 18, Johnny shot four children in their beds. Late Sunday, Bertha Satterwhite discovered the bodies of their son, Christopher (10), and of Johnny Gary (13), Terrance Gary (14), and Mary Gary (16), who were Johnny Satterwhite’s stepchildren. The authorities could not explain why the children had the last name Gary. The boys had each been shot twice in the head and the girl was shot three times. All four were lying in their pajamas in bed. Chief Morse did not know an exact time of death but said the children could have been killed as early as Thursday since they were not at school on Friday.

Investigation

Warrants charging Johnny Satterwhite with murder were issued before his truck was found five miles north of Laurens. A search of the small one-story house found a .22-caliber revolver, which was bought Thursday at a local pawn shop, along with a box of low-noise cartridges. Police found Johnny Satterwhite’s note to his wife in the living room. Police used bloodhounds to search the woods nearby. His body was pulled from the Clinton city reservoir a few hours later. No cause of death had been determined, but there were no indications of foul play. Laurens County Coroner Zack Seymour said no indications of foul play were found, and an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.

Arrest

Outcome

Johnny Satterwhite was found dead in a reservoir after leaving a message for his estranged wife to pick up "four packages" at home. Police said he apparently drowned himself after his wife discovered the children’s bodies, along with his note, on Sunday afternoon.

Aftermath

Mrs. Satterwhite had been called by a mutual friend of the couple who told her to go to the family home, saying "there were four packages" left for her by Johnny Satterwhite. The friend who relayed the message was apparently unaware of the killings.

Other details

Johnny Satterwhite left a note to his wife in the living room. Laurens Police Chief Robin Morse said:

"Basically it told her to have a Merry Christmas, used some profanity and said she would be alone in '97."