Leroy Drayton was executed by the State of South Carolina for the murder of Rhonda Smith
According to court documents Leroy Drayton would rob a gas station and then would kidnap the clerk, 19 year old Rhonda Smith, who was brought to a remote location and murdered
Leroy Drayton would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Leroy Drayton would be executed by lethal injection on November 12 1999
Leroy Drayton Case
In the early morning hours of Saturday, February 11, 1984, Drayton killed Rhonda Darlene Smith by firing a .38-caliber bullet into her head at close range.
Events leading to the murder are discerned from Drayton’s confession and from testimony of witnesses who observed Drayton and Miss Smith together prior to the fatal shooting.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., Friday, February 10, Miss Smith drove her fiancé’s car to work. She then commenced her shift as cashier of a Kayo gas station and convenience store in the North Charleston area. Between 1:00 and 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, she had a telephone conversation with her fiancé.
Thereafter, Drayton entered the station with a .357 magnum pistol. He then abducted Miss Smith in her fiancé’s car. After driving a distance Drayton, riding as a passenger, required her to return to the station. Upon arrival, they observed Gerald Condon, who testified that he was at the station to purchase cigarettes, but had found the station door locked. According to Condon, Miss Smith gave a signal with her hands indicating she would return and then drove back in the direction from which she had come.
Later, Drayton and Miss Smith did return, at which time customers were present. After these customers were served and had departed, Drayton again abducted Miss Smith. They drove to a secluded area along the Cooper River, where an abandoned coal trestle and pier were located.
In his confession Drayton states that the pistol fired accidentally when he lost his balance on the pier, causing his right hand to strike the railing. Miss Smith was killed immediately and fell from the pier into a grassy area immediately *421 adjacent to the river. Drayton left, driving Miss Smith’s car, and contacted a friend, Anthony J. Washington (Washington).
At daybreak Drayton and Washington returned to the scene where, according to Drayton’s statement, Washington took money from Miss Smith’s pockets. Money was also discovered missing from the store.
Miss Smith’s body was discovered near the coal trestle between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday by a fisherman.
In his statement Drayton claims that he remained in the Charleston area until apprehended. Washington disputes this, testifying that he and Drayton placed stolen license plates on Miss Smith’s car on February 11, and drove to New York City. While there Drayton gave the pistol to his uncle, who also arranged a sale of the car. Testimony of the uncle corroborates that of Washington.
Drayton and Washington returned to Charleston from New York by commercial bus on Tuesday, February 14. Drayton was arrested and charged on Thursday, February 16.
https://law.justia.com/cases/south-carolina/supreme-court/1987/22778-1.html
