WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Mark David Hill executed Friday

Mark David Hill executed Friday

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Twelve years finally came to a head Friday for David Mark Hill, as he was the 269th South Carolinian executed.

It all happened on the afternoon of Sept. 17, 1996 at a Department of Social Services office in North Augusta. That was the day three department workers were gunned down by Hill.

His victims were 30-year-old Michael Gregory, 33-year-old Josie Curry and 52-year-old Jimmy Riddle.

Hill was angry that DSS took away custody of his quadriplegic daughter and twin sons.

In his 1999 trial, Hill's defense team tried to point out his depressed mental state, saying Hill wasn't on his medication the day of the shootings. Witness testimony would ultimately sway the jury to hand down a death sentence.

Hill's mental state was under question. During the tragic afternoon, Hill turned the gun on himself. His wound damaged part of his brain's frontal lobe.

Hill could not make any facial expressions, but he was able to read a statement of apology during his trial.

Ultimately, he dropped all of his appeals and told the Supreme Court he deserved to die.

Reported by Brian DeRoy

Posted by Jeremy Turnage