Cold cases capture our imagination for different reasons. Sadly, many of these cases go years without ever being solved, or if they are, it is only after years of investigation. It seems inconceivable in 2024 that so many would still be on the books with modern technology. Unfortunately, some cases will never be solved, while others have become documentaries and etched a place in history, such as the D.B. Cooper case.
Todd Kohlhepp sent shockwaves through South Carolina when he was arrested in 2016 after Kala Brown was found chained inside a storage container on his property in Moore. Kolhepp was eventually tied to another cold case in the Upstate, The Superbike Murders. Many thought his killing rampage would uncover other crimes and would help solve another famous case from the same area. The Blue Ridge Savings Bank Murders occurred the same year as the Superbike Murders in 2003. So far, no one has been arrested or charged in that case.
Twenty years have passed since three people were gunned down in broad daylight inside the Blue Ridge Savings Bank off Highway 85 in Greer. The case is unsolved and considered one of the worst in the history of the Upstate. Sylvia Holtzclaw and Eb and Maggie Barnes all died after being shot with a 40-caliber Glock on May 16, 2003. Police had little physical evidence to go from, and the money the killer fled the premises with was marked.
What we know:
Sylvia Holtzclaw pressed the panic button around 1:30 p.m., which signaled the police. The police believe robbery was the motive. All three were found dead by the police after arriving just minutes later.
The Blue Ridge Savings Bank Murders gained national attention when it appeared on Unsolved Mysteries on November 7, 2014. Now, twenty years later, the killer is still believed to be on the loose. The FBI has released a sketch of the suspect.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr
Image Credit: Herald-Journal