MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) – A Marion County man charged with murdering his wife appeared in court Monday morning. 48 year old Todd White faced a judge for the first time inside a Marion County courtroom.
Monday’s court appearance was a bond hearing on solely the weapons charge. A judge granted him a $25,000 surety bond on that charge.
According to the magistrate’s office, about 20 of the victim’s family members were in court. One family member spoke out and acknowledges that has a “bad problem.” However, did not say what it was.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested White in connection with a shooting that killed his wife near Marion Friday night
Sheriff Mark Richardson says officers were called to a scene on 1401 Grassy Court near Marion around 10:00 p.m. Friday night.
59 year old Gale Davis was found dead from a single shotgun wound to her chest. Officers arrested her husband, White, in connection with the shooting.
Marion County Sheriff’s officers say at first White told them he had gone to the restroom and had heard a shot. He said came out and saw a Black man running from the house and he chased him.
Deputies sent out Bloodhounds on the ground to locate a track but were unsuccessful.
Sheriff Richardson said Mr. White eventually admitted to the crime during a further interview and showed officers where the gun was that he threw over the fence. He later changed his story and said the gun went off by accident.
According Sheriff Richardson, Todd White is charged with Murder and Use of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
News13 also requested a criminal background check and we found out that white’s first run in with the law was August 1989.
Then he was charged with an unlawful pistol and discharging a firearm.
Four years later in 1993 he was again arrested by Marion Police on assault and battery charges.
Then in 1997 White was charged with a hit and run. However, it wasn’t until later that year that White faced his first criminal domestic violence charge, which kept occurring over the next 10 years.
White will have another bond hearing on the murder charge possibly sometime in May and his initial appearance for both charges on August 16th.