MURDER
CASE #: 2001-4
Shelton John Sanders
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Columbia, South Carolina
Reward:
up to $50,000
via Wilveria Sanders, Shelton’s sister
Not from STC, Conditions and restrictions apply
Summary:
Shelton Sanders was a University of South Carolina student, studying Administrative Information Management and was working part time as a computer programmer for USC’s Neuropsychiatry Department in the School of Medicine, at the time of his disappearance. Shelton was last seen at an apartment in Columbia, SC not far from where he worked and went to school at the University of South Carolina.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Shelton Sanders was last seen on Olympia Ave in Richland County, SC. Shelton had attended a full day of classes and worked on June 19, 2001. Before heading home to Rembert, SC where he lived with his parents, Shelton stayed in the area to help plan a friend’s bachelor party. Shelton spoke with his parents between 8:00-9:00PM to let them know he would be home late. Shelton met up with his friend and former college roommate, Mark Richardson. They went to several hotels in downtown Columbia, SC to book hotel rooms for the bachelor party. After leaving hotels, Shelton and Mark went to Mark’s home on Olympia Avenue in Columbia, SC to finish working out some details for the party. This is Shelton’s last known location and Shelton is presumed to be deceased, but his remains have never been found. One of Mark’s neighbors reported hearing three gunshots coming from the direction of Mark’s apartment before midnight. When the neighbor walked over to see what happened, Mark told him that his car was backfiring. Shelton was reported missing three days later by his family, on June 22, 2001. On April 26, 2003, the car Shelton was driving on the night of his disappearance, his brother’s white 1988 Oldsmobile Regency, was found in the parking lot of the Greenbrier Apartment complex in Columbia, SC. The car was found abandoned, backed into a parking spot. Authorities quickly determined that the car had been in the parking lot since his disappearance two years earlier.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Shelton’s father contacted the Sumter County Sheriff and filed a missing persons report.
Mark called his sister and brother to ask them to pick him up on Two Notch Road, two blocks north of Parklane Road. Mark’s brother picked him up.
Mark’s cell phone signal pinged off multiple cell phone towers surrounding the Parklane Road and Two Notch Road area.
Between 11:00-11:30 PM, Shelton and Mark returned to Mark’s home.
Between 10:00-10:45PM, Shelton and Mark arrived at Residence Inn in Columbia, SC.
Shelton and Mark arrive at Embassy Suites in Columbia, SC.
Shelton and Mark arrive at Wellesly Inn & Suites in Columbia, SC.
Shelton made a call to Mark’s cell phone in an attempt to help him locate it.
Between 8:45-9:00PM, Shelton and Mark Richardson arrived at Mark’s home, 1132 Olympia Ave, Columbia, SC, so they could ride together in one vehicle.
Shelton spoke with his mother and brother, Edwin Sanders, about bringing his car back to Rembert, South Carolina. Shelton stated that he would be home within the next two hours.
June 19, 2001. 7:00PM-7:30PM - Shelton arrived at a friends house on Howe St, Columbia, SC to discuss plans for a bachelor party. Shortly after, Mark Richardson arrived and offered to help Shelton reserve the hotel rooms.
June 19, 2001 1:00PM - Shelton was at work at the Neuropsychiatry Department School of Medicine
June 19, 2001 11:00AM - Shelton attended class at USC Columbia.
Related Vehicles
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Associated Persons
William S. (Father) - Living
Peggy S. (Mother) - Living
Mark Anthony R. (Person of Interest) - Living
Wilveria S. (Sibling) - Living
Case Content Disclaimer: The details on this case page are sourced from numerous locations to include family, friends, news postings and government public releases. Solve the Case, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of any content as case pages are living documents that frequently update as case details expand.
