Tright here’s a wall at CrimeCon – the most important true crime occasion within the nation – that’s plastered with the faces of a whole lot of lacking individuals. Some have been lacking for months. However most have been lacking for many years.
Finally yr’s CrimeCon in Orlando, Wilveria Sanders was there as a volunteer serving to others. She stopped by the lacking individuals wall to gaze on the acquainted photograph of her brother, Shelton Sanders, that has been circulating for greater than 20 years.
Wilveria was solely 11 when her brother, a USC-Columbia scholar, went lacking in 2001 however she has vowed to seek out out what occurred to him.
“He was my complete world,” she stated. “And he nonetheless is. I’ve devoted my complete life to my brother and giving him a voice.”
Earlier this month, Wilveria returned to CrimeCon, this yr in Nashville, however this time she was there as an exhibitor – with a sales space the place she may inform Shelton’s story.
“The extra info we put on the market and the extra public consciousness there’s, the nearer I really feel to getting justice for Shelton,” she stated. “Our combat for Shelton will not be over.”
On the sales space subsequent to hers was the household of Gabby Petitio, the 22-year-old who was killed by fiancé Brian Laundrie in 2021 whereas they had been on a cross-country street journey.
The Petitio household informed Wilveria they keep in mind seeing Shelton’s image on the earlier occasion and requested for fliers and different materials handy out from their sales space.
Gabby’s father had just a few phrases of consolation for Wilveria.
“By no means quit hope,” he informed her.
What occurred to Shelton?
Shelton Sanders was a scholar on the College of South Carolina in Columbia when he disappeared on June 19, 2001. He was 25 years previous.
He was learning Administrative Info Administration and likewise labored as a pc programmer for the varsity’s Neuropsychiatry Division Faculty of Medication.
Wilveria stated her brother had goals of proudly owning a consulting enterprise and elevating a household someday. However that modified on June 19, 2001.
The day started as regular with Shelton attending school lessons. Earlier than he drove residence to Rembert, he joined his former school roommate, Mark Richardson, to order resort rooms in Columbia for a bachelor celebration they had been planning.
He referred to as his mom round 8:30 p.m. to let her know that he’d be residence later, however he by no means confirmed up.
Based on a Sumter County Sheriff’s Division investigation, Shelton and Richardson had been seen at Wellesley Inns & Suites in Columbia round 9:30 p.m., then on the Embassy Suites in Columbia at 9:51 p.m. and on the Residence Inn simply after 10 p.m. — all within the downtown space of Columbia. They returned to Richardson’s residence between 11 and 11:30 p.m.
A neighbor would later inform investigators that it was round that point that they heard three gunshots coming from the world of Richardson’s residence. Once they walked over to seek out out what occurred, Richardson informed the neighbor that all the things was positive and that his automobile had simply backfired, police stated in studies on the time.
Richardson later informed investigators that he and Shelton had gone their separate methods, and that Shelton had headed again to his residence in Rembert.
His mother and father, Invoice Sanders, a Sumter County Justice of the Peace, and Peggy Sanders, grew to become involved when he wasn’t residence the following day and filed a lacking individuals report with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Division.
A search was launched, however with no proof, the case rapidly turned chilly.
Two years later, Shelton’s white 1988 Oldsmobile Regency was discovered backed right into a parking area on the Greenbrier Condominium advanced in Columbia.
Richland County Sheriff’s Division joined the investigation and Richardson, the final individual to be seen with Shelton, was referred to as in for additional questioning.
Sergeant Shawn McDaniels, an investigator with the Richland County Sheriff’s Division on the case, informed Dateline NBC again in 2021 that Richardson made statements throughout that interview that led investigators to deal with him as their prime suspect.
Based on McDaniels, Richardson requested the investigators in the course of the interview, “Let me ask you a hypothetical query? Is there such a factor as an unintentional demise within the state of South Carolina?” After he was informed he’d be given the chance to clarify, Richardson additionally requested, “How can I clarify eliminating a physique?”
McDaniels stated Richardson refused to say anything.
Investigators had been capable of place Richardson proper the place Shelton’s automobile was discovered on the night time he went lacking with the assistance of telephone pings.
“We triangulated his cellphone data and we had been capable of, on the night time that Shelton Sanders was final seen and heard from, we had been capable of put Mark Richardson’s cellphone data proper the place the automobile was discovered,” McDaniels stated in the course of the 2021 interview with Dateline.
No physique, no crime
In October of 2005, Mark Richardson was arrested and charged with homicide in connection to Shelton’s disappearance.
In April 2008, he stood trial. However the jury was unable to achieve a verdict, with seven jurors voting responsible and 5 jurors voting not responsible or undecided, and a mistrial was declared.
Wilveria informed The Unbiased that the end result was devastating for his or her household.
“It’s been 23 years of ache for us, 23 years of grieving and lacking Shelton,” she stated. “We simply need solutions.”
There has not but been a retrial as there was not sufficient proof.
McDaniels spoke with WACH FOX Information in 2022 about arresting Richardson and charging him with homicide in 2005, and the frustration about seeing him launched in 2008 after his trial resulted in a hung jury.
“Essentially the most irritating half began initially, after we needed to cope with jurisdiction points together with the Sumter County Sheriff’s division,” he stated.
“And what’s irritating is to construct up sufficient proof, robust circumstantial proof, sufficient to get an arrest warrant, and to see that this case right here was determined totally on a jury that was racially divided.”
“He was the final individual with him,” he added. “Gunshots had been heard at his home by a reputable witness. So, why would it’s essential clarify that? All of the proof factors to [Mark Richardson].”
The Unbiased has reached out to Richardson for remark. He at the moment resides in Greenville, South Carolina, which is about 100 miles from Columbia.
With out additional proof, akin to Shelton’s stays, one other trial or suspect is unlikely.
A sister’s combat for justice
Wilveria continues to be on her mission to get justice for her brother.
“Even when he’s deceased, I nonetheless need to know the place he’s or what occurred to him. That’s all I need,” she stated.
Shelton had been lacking for about 10 years – and his case was turning chilly – when she and her household took it upon themselves to be unofficial investigators.
They arrange the Fb web page “Discovering Shelton Sanders,” established a tip line, carried out interviews with native and nationwide information retailers, elevated their reward supply and continued to plead with anybody who has info to return ahead.
Billboards had been positioned in Columbia, the place he was final seen. Digital billboards had been put within the space, in addition to Greenville, earlier this week. A brand new web site is predicted in just a few months time.
“At this level, we’re in search of a confession or his stays,” she stated.
“Solely then will we now have closure.”
The reward for info that results in the whereabouts of Shelton’s stays has doubled and the household is now providing $50,000.
“I pray on a regular basis for solutions,” Wilveria stated.
“However we haven’t given up hope – and we’ll by no means cease preventing for justice for him.”
Anybody with details about Shelton’s case or the whereabouts of his stays is requested to name the Richland County Sheriff’s Workplace at (803) 576-3000 or the Shelton Sanders info hotline at (803) 427-4209.
