Susan Hendricks

Case overview

Susan Hendricks was accused of killing four members of her own family in order to collect insurance money. The state believed she staged the deaths as a murder-suicide for the purpose of collecting insurance money. A judge at a preliminary hearing decided there was enough evidence to send the case to the grand jury.

Timeline

• October 14, 2011 — Susan Hendricks’ family members were found dead after a series of shootings at two neighboring mobile homes on Pinedale Road in Liberty.
• October 18, 2011 — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office released incident reports describing what deputies witnessed when they arrived on the scene on October 14.
• October 25, 2011 — Susan Hendricks was charged with four counts of murder and four counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
• October 26, 2011 — Susan Hendricks was charged with the murder of her two sons, her ex-husband, and her stepmother; she appeared before a Pickens County Magistrate.
• October 27, 2011 — Susan Diane Hendricks was described as accused of plotting the deaths of her two sons, their father, and her stepmother in a scheme to collect insurance money.
• December 13, 2011 — Susan Hendricks appeared in court for a preliminary hearing; a judge decided there was enough evidence to send the case to the grand jury.

The offence

Susan Hendricks was accused of killing her sons, their father, and her stepmother in two neighboring residences on Pinedale Road in Liberty.

Victims

• Marshall Wayne Hendricks (20)
• Matthew Wayne Hendricks (23)
• Mark Wayne Hendricks (52) (the sons’ father and Susan Hendricks’ ex-husband)
• Linda Ann Burns (64) (Susan Hendricks’ stepmother and the sons’ step-grandmother)

Scene description and discovery

Investigators found the victims in two residences on Pinedale Road:

• At 236 Pinedale Road, deputies found Matthew Hendricks in a right, rear bedroom with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. A handgun was found on a bedside table near Matthew Hendricks.
• At 236 Pinedale Road, deputies found Linda Burns in the right, front bedroom; EMS told police she had been shot in the torso.
• A “significant trail of blood” was observed after entering the home, and large amounts of blood trailed through the living room originating in the bedroom where Burns was found.
• Shell casings were found in a closet of the same room where Burns was found.
• Evelyn Burns told officers she had family in a nearby home at 304 Pinedale Road and that she was worried about their well-being.
• At 304 Pinedale Road, deputies discovered Marshall Hendricks and Mark Hendricks, both dead of gunshot wounds.

Investigators also described a handgun and gunshot locations as part of their findings:

• Prosecutors said that when the bodies were found, Matthew Hendricks was lying on a bed and the gun was on the nightstand next to him.
• Prosecutors said all four victims were killed by the same gun.

Investigation

Initial assessment and forensics

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a possible suicide around 6:30 a.m. on a Friday morning after Evelyn Burns called. Deputies arrived at 236 Pinedale Road and were met by the 911 caller, Evelyn Burns, who told police that her entire family was dead. Investigators said forensic tests conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division were needed and took time.

Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan later described the investigation status of an earlier case involving Hendricks, saying it had never been closed and evidence from the 2006 shooting “never rose to the level of probable cause.”

Life insurance motive alleged by prosecutors and investigators

Prosecutors said investigators found nine insurance policies worth an estimated $700,000, all naming Hendricks as the beneficiary. Prosecutors and officials said Hendricks’ alleged motive was life insurance policies placed on her family members.

Solicitor Walt Wilkins said Hendricks stood to receive “a significant amount of money” from the life insurance policies, and he described greed as a motive prosecutors intended to pursue.

Gunshot residue and alleged staging

Prosecutors said tests showed Hendricks had a substantial amount of gunshot residue on her clothing after the shootings. Prosecutors also said tests showed Matthew Hendricks had no gunshot residue on him.

Investigators said Hendricks tried to frame Matthew, saying he killed the others and then himself. Investigators said a suicide note with Matthew’s signature was found in the home, and that prosecutors did not believe Hendricks wrote the note, while they waited on confirmation of that.

Statements attributed to Susan Hendricks

Prosecutors said Hendricks told investigators Matthew had killed himself. Investigators also said Hendricks’ statements were inconsistent with scientific and forensic evidence.

Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan said Hendricks initially told officers that Matthew Hendricks had killed himself. Morgan also said Hendricks did not say he killed the other victims.

During an incident report described in released reports:

• Deputies reported that Hendricks told them she had last talked to Matthew Hendricks at 2 a.m. and that he kept telling her she was a good mother.
• Investigators reported Hendricks told deputies she found a note on the kitchen counter.
• Deputies reported Hendricks said she was in the home all night and did not hear gunshots and that she left the front door unlocked.
• Deputies reported Hendricks said Matthew had been suicidal in the past and had a problem with controlled substances.

911 call quotation

Evelyn Burns, the 911 caller, said:

“She told me that my nephew has shot himself,” Evelyn Burns said.

She also said:

“I’m on my way down there,” she said.

Arrest and pretrial custody

Arrest

Susan Hendricks was arrested at the Quality Inn in Easley at 7 p.m. on a Monday. Other reporting described deputies arrested her at the Quality Inn on U.S. 123. Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan said she was alone when arrested and her brother arrived shortly after.

Detention and initial appearance

She was held without bond at the Pickens County Detention Center at one point described in court-related reporting. She appeared before a Pickens County Magistrate, and the magistrate ruled she had to go before a Circuit Court judge to receive a bond because state law did not permit magistrates to issue bond for murder charges.

A public defender was identified as Teal Johnson during reporting about her arraignment, when Hendricks asked to have an attorney appointed.

Charges

Hendricks faced:

• Four counts of murder
• Four counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime

Arrest warrants alleged that Hendricks killed her family members “with a handgun owned by the defendant, which she kept in her nightstand.”

Trial

A detailed trial outcome was not described in the available material. The matter advanced procedurally to the grand jury after a preliminary hearing decision.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

At a preliminary hearing, a judge decided there was enough evidence to send the case to the grand jury.

Other details

Defense

Hendricks’ defense attorney John Mauldin said:

• Hendricks found the gun beside her son and moved it to the nightstand.
• Mauldin said Hendricks embraced her son to try to revive him.

Mauldin said Hendricks suffered from mental problems and possible brain damage and took five different medications for mental illness.

Hendricks did not speak in court on Monday at one preliminary-hearing appearance.

Court behavior quotation

During arraignment-related reporting, Magistrate Charles J. Wolfe Sr. explained Hendricks’ rights, and Hendricks spoke:

• “yes, sir” to confirm her identity
• “no, sir” when Wolfe asked if she had any questions

Family roles and relationships reported

• Mark Hendricks was the father of Marshall and Matthew.
• Burns (Linda Ann Burns) was described as the sons’ step-grandmother and Susan Hendricks’ stepmother.
• Susan Hendricks was described as the mother of Marshall and Matthew and the ex-wife of Mark.
• Susan Hendricks’ sister was identified as Evelyn Burns, who made the 911 call.

Prior 2006 shooting and referenced context

Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan referred to a 2006 homicide at the 236 Pinedale Drive residence. Reporting said Hendricks told investigators she shot Doyle O’Brine “Brian” Teague (39) on April 13, 2006 after he entered the residence uninvited and threatened her. Morgan said no charges were filed at the time, and evidence from the 2006 shooting “never rose to the level of probable cause.” Morgan said it had never been closed and could be reviewed if something new came up.

Mental health and care discussion

James Robert Burns Jr., Susan Hendricks’ brother, said his sister had a bipolar disorder and was under the care of a private psychology practice in Greenville. Tracy LaPointe, spokeswoman for the state Department of Mental Health, said the department could not say whether Hendricks had been under state care at any time and cited federal privacy laws.

Statements by officials

Pickens County Sheriff David Stone made statements about suspicion and investigative prudence, including:

“Leaping to conclusions … can easily result in the wrong person being charged with a crime,” Stone said.

Stone also said:

“We want to ensure that this never happens in Pickens County.”

Stone described the act as:

“a horrendous act of evil.”

Solicitor Walt Wilkins said:

“This led us to the conclusion that Susan Hendricks did in fact kill, murder her two sons, her ex-husband and her stepfather,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins also said:

“Greed can be a powerful motive,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins further described qualification for capital consideration:

“My lawyers as well as the Sheriff’s Office and SLED will continue to review the evidence,” he said.
“We’ll meet and discuss that possibility and make an ultimate decision at the appropriate time.”

Stone also stated:

“From the beginning, suspicion has pointed in one direction,” Stone said.
“But there were other areas of investigation that had to be pursued.”

Statement by Susan Hendricks

After the shootings, Susan Hendricks released a statement that said:

“On behalf of my family and I, we would like to thank the community for their prayers and concern for the four lives lost on Friday morning. However, due to the magnitude and overwhelming grief we are experiencing, we ask that our privacy be respected. We are trying our best to process what has happened, make necessary arrangements, and deal with our tremendous loss. We pray for understanding and peace during our difficult time. Thank you.”

Coroner findings and autopsy status

The coroner ruled:

• Mark Hendricks (52) homicide
• Marshall Hendricks (20) homicide
• Linda Burns (64) homicide
• Matthew Hendricks (23) cause of death still pending at the time described in reporting

Medical examiner / gunshot residue contrast reported

Investigators said:

• Hendricks had substantial gunshot residue on her clothing.
• Tests showed Matthew Hendricks had no gunshot residue on him.

Death penalty discussion

Prosecutors said Walt Wilkins had not determined whether he would seek the death penalty at the preliminary hearing stage. Wilkins said the case could qualify as a death penalty case because multiple people were killed.