Offender Record · OFF-2026-077
Pee Wee Gaskin (photo from the Radford University biography)
Donald Henry Gaskins Jr.
Also known as Pee Wee, Junior Parrott, Donald Henry Parrott Jr.
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'4"
Weight
130 lbs
Born
1933
Custody
Deceased
States
SC, TN, GA, NC
Distinguishing featuresSmall stature; described as 5'4" and 130 pounds (document, wikipedia); given nickname 'Pee Wee' for small height and weight at birth (document)
Custody
Gaskins was pronounced dead by electrocution on September 6, 1991
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Donald Henry 'Pee Wee' Gaskins Jr. was born March 31, 1933 in Florence County, South Carolina and died September 6, 1991 at Broad River Correctional Institution. In May 1976, a Florence County jury found Gaskins guilty for the murder of one of eight victims, Dennis Bellamy, and sentenced him to death by electric chair. Those convictions were overturned by the South Carolina State Supreme Court in 1976 and remanded to consecutive life sentences. On September 12, 1982, while a prisoner working on death row, Gaskins was charged with murdering inmate Rudolph Tyner, and on March 24, 1983, Gaskins was convicted of Tyner's murder and sentenced to death. Gaskins was executed in South Carolina's electric chair on September 6, 1991.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date 1946, Florence, South Carolina
Assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill
Florence County, South Carolina · Florence County Court · Arrested Jun 1946 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Committed to South Carolina Industrial School for Boys until age 18
At age 13, Gaskins was convicted of assaulting a young woman by hitting her in the head with an axe when she caught him breaking into her family home. He was sentenced to five years in a reform school, the South Carolina Industrial School for White Boys in Florence.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Gaskin, Pee Wee; Donald Henry Gaskins; Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins - Crime Museum
Offense date Sep 1952, Johnstonville, South Carolina
Assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder
Florence County, South Carolina · Florence County Court · Arrested Nov 1952 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Five years in South Carolina State Penitentiary in Columbia
When his employer's daughter questioned him about the barn fires, he panicked and split the girl's skull with the hammer in hand. He received a five year sentence in prison for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Gaskin, Pee Wee; Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins - Crime Museum
Offense date 1953, Columbia, South Carolina
Involuntary manslaughter
Central Correctional Institution, South Carolina · Arrested 1953 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Six months solitary confinement
In prison, Gaskins killed Hazel Brazell to become a 'Power Man' and prevent further sexual abuse from other inmates.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Gaskin, Pee Wee; Meet 'Pee Wee' Gaskins, The Cannibal Serial Killer Who Forced His Victims To Eat Themselves
Offense date 1962, North Carolina
Statutory rape
Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Penitentiary · Arrested 1962 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Six years in Columbia Penitentiary, South Carolina; released 1968
In 1962, Gaskins was arrested for the statutory rape of a 12-year-old girl, but he escaped to North Carolina in a stolen car. Once in North Carolina, he met a 17-year-old girl whom he married. She eventually turned him into the police for statutory rape and he received six years in Columbia Penitentiary.
SourcesDonald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins - Crime Museum
Offense date Sep 1962, Florence, South Carolina
Statutory rape and carnal knowledge of a child
Florence County, South Carolina · Florence County Court · Arrested Sep 1962 · Sentence: Escaped from custody
12-year old Patsy lived near his mother, in early September on a Saturday he molested her. Pee Wee was taken to Florence County Jail and she was taken home. Pee Wee was charged with Statutory Rape and Carnal Knowledge of a Child.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Gaskin, Pee Wee
Offense date Feb 12, 1975, Williamsburg County, South Carolina
Murder
Florence County, South Carolina · Florence County Court · Arrested Nov 14, 1975 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment
On Dec. 8, 1976, a mile from where the Ghelkins girl was found, searchers found the body of Silas Barnwell Yates, 45, a prosperous Florence County farmer. Gaskins was charged in Yates' death and was sentenced to his second life term in April 1977. Suzanne Kipper paid him $1500 to kill her ex-boyfriend, Silas Yates. Gaskins then kidnapped and murdered Yates while Powell and Owens watched.
SourcesPee Wee Gaskins: Prospect's Notorious Serial Killer
Offense date Oct 10, 1975, Prospect, South Carolina
Murder
Florence County, South Carolina · Florence County Court · Docket 20608 · § 16-52, Code of Laws of South Carolina (1962) · Arrested Nov 14, 1975 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electrocution; commuted to life in November 1976; re-sentenced to death in 1978
Donald H. Gaskins, Jr. was charged with murdering Dennis Bellamy by shooting him with a gun on October 10, 1975. He was tried by a jury in May, 1976, found guilty and sentenced to death by electrocution. Those convictions were overturned by the South Carolina State Supreme Court in 1976 and remanded to consecutive life sentences.
SourcesState v. Gaskins; Gaskins, Donald Henry
Offense date Sep 12, 1982, Columbia, South Carolina
Murder
South Carolina · South Carolina State Penitentiary · Arrested Sep 12, 1982 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electrocution
On September 12, 1982, while a prisoner working on death row, Gaskins was charged with murdering inmate Rudolph Tyner, who was awaiting execution for an Horry County murder. On March 24, 1983, Gaskins was convicted of Tyner's murder and sentenced to death. Gaskins initially made several unsuccessful attempts to kill Tyner by lacing his food and drink with poison before he opted to use explosives to kill him. Gaskins rigged a device similar to a portable radio in Tyner's cell and told Tyner this would allow them to 'communicate between cells'. When Tyner followed Gaskins's instructions to hold a speaker laden with C-4 plastic explosive to his ear at an agreed time, Gaskins detonated the explosives from his cell and killed Tyner.
SourcesGaskins, Donald Henry
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
9
Victims convicted
90
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1970–1982
Victim profile
Young women, Children, Teenagers, Hitchhikers, Acquaintances, Family members
Stated motive
Sexual, Anger or revenge, Financial gain, Power or control, Thrill
Range from home
interstate
Accomplice
Yes
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
1
Died
1991-09-06 · executed
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
GA
Atlanta, Georgia
approx. 1955 – 1961 · Federal Penitentiary Atlanta, Georgia for interstate auto theft
NC
North Carolina
approx. 1962 – 1963 · Pembroke, North Carolina Indian Reservation; later Charlotte and Raleigh
North Carolina
approx. Sep 1969 – Sep 1969 · Picked up hitchhiker on North Carolina highway
SC
Florence, South Carolina
approx. 1933 – 1946 · Mother Molly's home in rural Florence County
Florence, South Carolina
approx. 1940 – 1941 · Attended school until age 8 then dropped out
Florence, South Carolina
approx. 1945 – 1946 · Auto garage repair shop as mechanic
Florence, South Carolina
Jun 1946 – Aug 1951 · South Carolina Industrial School for Boys
Johnsonville, South Carolina
approx. 1951 – 1952 · Three-bedroom house provided by Slick on tobacco farm
Johnsonville, South Carolina
approx. 1951 – 1952 · Tobacco farm work and shade-tree car repair on weekends
Georgetown, South Carolina
approx. 1951 – 1951 · Logging cypress in swamps, government contract
Georgetown, South Carolina
approx. 1951 – 1951 · Lived with Mary's family after release from reform school
Georgetown, South Carolina
approx. 1951 – 1951 · Construction site work
Johnsonville, South Carolina
approx. 1952 – 1952 · Burning tobacco farms for insurance money
Columbia, South Carolina
Nov 1952 – Aug 06, 1961 · South Carolina State Penitentiary
South Carolina
approx. Aug 1961 – 1962 · Traveling ministry assistant with Reverend George E. Todd
Florence, South Carolina
approx. Aug 1961 – 1962 · Repainting cars as mechanic
Florence, South Carolina
approx. Aug 1961 – 1962 · Lived with cousin Marvin Parrott in trailer owned by uncle Dewey Parrott
Florence, South Carolina
Sep 1962 – Sep 1962 · Arrested for statutory rape of 12-year-old; escaped from courthouse
Columbia, South Carolina
1963 – Nov 1968 · Columbia Penitentiary for statutory rape conviction; released November 1968
South Carolina
approx. Nov 1968 – Sep 1969 · Lived in South Carolina between release from prison and first confirmed murder
New Prospect, South Carolina
approx. 1970 – 1975 · Auto repair shop owner
New Prospect, South Carolina
approx. 1970 – Nov 1975 · Primary residence where bodies buried in private cemetery
Florence, South Carolina
Nov 14, 1975 – May 28, 1976 · Florence County Jail during investigation and trial
Columbia, South Carolina
May 28, 1976 – Sep 06, 1991 · Central Correctional Institution, South Carolina (later called South Carolina Correctional Institution); executed September 6, 1991
TN
Tennessee
approx. 1962 – 1962 · Fled to North Carolina in stolen car; stopped in Tennessee
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1970 unknown hearse – Old hearse
approx. 1973 – 1975
Purchased in Prospect, South Carolina; used for transporting victims and their remains
1949 Ford – 1949 Ford
approx. 1962 – 1962
Purchased in Raleigh, North Carolina after abandoning stolen 1962 Ford Galaxy
1962 Ford Galaxy – 1962 Ford Galaxy
approx. 1962 – 1962
Stolen in Dillon, South Carolina after escape from courthouse
1950 blue Pontiac – 1950 Pontiac
Jun 1955 – Jun 1955
Stolen from cousin David Gaskin at Peppermint Gas Station during escape from prison
Timeline
Mar 31, 1933
Donald Henry 'Pee Wee' Gaskins Jr. born March 31, 1933 in Florence County, South Carolina, U.S.
Jun 18, 1946
He was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill and was sent to a reform school on June 18, 1946.
Aug 06, 1951
After Pee Wee was released from prison in August, 1961, he returned to work on tobacco farm.
Nov 1952
Charged with assault with a deadly weapon, intent to inflict bodily harm and/or arson for setting barns on fire; sentenced to five years in South Carolina State Penitentiary.
1953
Convicted of involuntary manslaughter for killing fellow inmate Hazel Brazell in prison and sentenced to six months solitary confinement.
Aug 06, 1961
Released from South Carolina State Penitentiary after serving sentence for assault and attempted murder.
Sep 1962
12-year old Patsy lived near his mother, in early September on a Saturday he molested her. Pee Wee was taken to Florence County Jail and she was taken home. Pee Wee was charged with Statutory Rape and Carnal Knowledge of a Child.
Sep 1962
Escaped from Florence County courthouse by jumping thirty feet out a window; stole county car and fled to North Carolina.
1963
Convicted of statutory rape and sentenced to six years in Columbia Penitentiary, South Carolina.
Nov 1968
In November 1968, he was paroled and made a vow to never return again.
Sep 1969
In September 1969, he found relief from these feelings. Gaskins picked up a female hitchhiker in North Carolina and became angry when she laughed at his sexual propositions.
Nov 10, 1970
The first victims were on November 10th 1970; Gaskins's niece Janice Faye Kirby (15) and her close friend Patricia Ann Alsbrook (17).
Oct 10, 1975
Donald H. Gaskins, Jr. was charged with murdering Dennis Bellamy by shooting him with a gun on October 10, 1975.
Nov 14, 1975
Date apprehended: November 14, 1975; arrested for contributing to the delinquency of minor Kim Ghelkins after police found eight bodies buried near his home in Prospect.
Apr 27, 1976
On April 27, 1976, Gaskins and Walter Neely were charged with eight counts of murder.
May 24, 1976
He was tried by a jury in May, 1976, found guilty and sentenced to death by electrocution.
May 28, 1976
Jury convicted Gaskins of the murder of Dennis Bellamy and sentenced him to death.
Nov 1976
The sentence was commuted to life in prison later that year after the South Carolina death statute was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dec 08, 1976
On Dec. 8, 1976, a mile from where the Ghelkins girl was found, searchers found the body of Silas Barnwell Yates, 45, a prosperous Florence County farmer. Gaskins was charged in Yates' death and was sentenced to his second life term in April 1977.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Crime Museum ·
Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins - Crime Museum“Donald Gaskins was arrested and convicted for assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill”
Offender registry · Wikipedia ·
Donald Henry Gaskins“Donald Henry 'Pee Wee' Gaskins Jr. was born March 31, 1933 and died September 6, 1991”
News report · All That's Interesting ·
Meet 'Pee Wee' Gaskins, The Cannibal Serial Killer Who Forced His Victims To Eat Themselves“Charged with eight counts of murder, Gaskins was found guilty of the first on May 24, 1976, and sentenced to death”
Other government record · South Carolina Encyclopedia ·
Gaskins, Donald Henry“On March 24, 1983, Gaskins was convicted of Tyner's murder and sentenced to death. Gaskins was executed in South Carolina's electric chair on September 6, 1991.”
Court record · CourtListener ·
State v. Gaskins“The defendant-appellant, Donald H. Gaskins, Jr. was charged with murdering Dennis Bellamy by shooting him with a gun on October 10, 1975. He was tried by a jury in May, 1976, found guilty and sentenced to death by electrocution.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Gaskin, Pee Wee“Donald Henry Gaskins, Jr. 'Pee Wee' born on March 13, 1933”
News report · Oxygen ·
Who Is South Carolina Serial Killer Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins?“He told authorities the killing began in 1970 after his 15-year-old niece Janice Kirby ran away with her friend Patricia Allsbrook”
News report · Johnsonville SC History ·
Pee Wee Gaskins: Prospect's Notorious Serial Killer“On December 8, 1976, a mile from where the Ghelkins girl was found, searchers found the body of Silas Barnwell Yates, 45, a prosperous Florence County farmer.”
News report · Baltimore Sun ·
Murderer in S.C. is first white since '44 to be executed for killing a black victim“Donald 'Peewee' Gaskins was put to death in Columbia, S.C., early yesterday for the 1982 killing-for-hire of Rudolph Tyner”
Discussion
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