'Justice has no time limit,' solicitor saysDNA allows prosecution of old cases By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Herman S. Rigby Jr. SUMMERVILLE — One woman was kidnapped at knifepoint outside a fast-food restaurant. One was abducted from a nightclub. Two others were targeted as they sat in a friend's disabled car. They were all raped between March and September 1987, so long ago that at least one of the women has since died, but "justice has no time limit," 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said Wednesday. Pascoe made the comment after Summerville police and Dorchester County sheriff's investigators announced that they have filed four charges of kidnapping and four charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against Herman Sammie Rigby Jr., 50, in the 1987 cases. Rigby has been in prison since 2002 on a robbery conviction out of Georgetown, but affidavits said he was living in the Summerville area at the time of the 1987 crimes. In addition to the charges against Rigby, Sheriff Ray Nash said investigators have identified and will be filing charges against another suspect in unsolved rapes during the late 1980s. That suspect also is in prison, but Nash wouldn't release any other details. There is no connection between Rigby and the second suspect, he said. Rigby was interviewed 21 years ago, but there wasn't enough evidence to make a case against him, Nash said. Since that time, a database of DNA profiles of convicted felons has been implemented, allowing "cold" cases to be analyzed. Affidavits state that DNA recovered from evidence in the 1987 cases matches Rigby's DNA profile, although that's not the only evidence investigators have, sheriff's Lt. John Garrison said. Garrison said he has spoken to some of the victims, whose reactions to the arrest have ranged from "nonchalant to absolute hysteria." Investigators will move forward, even if a victim has died, he said. "They, their families, deserve as much justice as anybody else." If convicted, Rigby would be sentenced as state law provided in 1987, Pascoe said. That's a maximum of 30 years in prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which Pascoe said would be parole eligible, and life for kidnapping. Reach Nita Birmingham at nbirmingham@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by bustin_ur_lies on May 1, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow, i must say this is some disturbing news, kidnapping rape and some mysterious other who isnt linked to rigby, its great to see how they could add an unnecessary comment like that, if they are not linked theres no reason to post it, if its about rigby let it be about just rigby unless 2 were proven to be connected
Posted by lillycollette on May 1, 2008 at 4:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"JUSTICE HAS NO TIME LIMIT"
… "[J]ustice has no time limit," … investigators … filed … charges … in the 1987 cases. … DNA … allowing "cold" cases to be analyzed. … Investigators will move forward, even if a victim has died … "They, their families, deserve as much justice as anybody else." http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/may/...
Posted by Early on May 1, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When are we going to get tough on crime?
What is the point of punishment that will deter would be criminals? Why did executions and hanging disapear?
Posted by theronce on May 1, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't you know that there is no limit to the amount of cruel and unusual punishment that we the people must endure at the hands of evil doers?
Posted by ColdBeer on May 1, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, the death penalty has become way too difficult to carry out. It's a shame that law abiding citizens are the ones that suffer as a result.
Posted by wpc3iop on May 1, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like Mr. Rigby is in for a lifetime of fun with "Big Bubba"...
Posted by LutherVanderhorst on May 1, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Send him to a womens prison. They'll sort it out.
Posted by Early on May 1, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Raregar, your right but I have to wonder if these organizations represent the majority of the public these days.
Posted by ConcernedinCHS on May 1, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justice has no time limits? What about the statute of limitations? Wouldn't that apply or did the judge forget about the appeals process?
Not a comment on the rape just a thought about judges comment.
Posted by donny on May 1, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is no statute of limitations in almost all criminal cases in SC, hence the comment by the Solicitor, not a judge, that "Justice has no time limits". Also, the appeals process has absolutely nothing to do with the State prosecuting this defendant.
Posted by summerville_guy on May 1, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy IS Big Bubba! By the way, did they ever catch Lil' Ammo?
Posted by RTC on May 1, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw this on this news last night. I know they have a tendency to dramatize things, but it gave me chills to listen to how and what this scum did to those women.
He not only harmed them physically, but he robbed them of their mental and emotional well being.
He does not deserve to be among the living.
Posted by carlosthedwarf on May 1, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When will people ever learn? Our criminal justice system is filled with scumbags like this guy who have rap sheets that contain a well-documented history of crimes. Yet soft judges keep letting these criminals out because they believe they can be rehabbed.
Posted by ln1959 on May 1, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This scum bag deserve every thing he gets. They should cut off his...well you know what. To force yourself on a woman is a sign of a punk and his punk behind will pay for it in prison.
Now for the electric chair and hanging. Lets look at the case in Texas where a man just got out of jail after 27 years for a rape that he didn't commit. I am all for it, but can we be sure that innocent people are not being hanged. I would hate to be one of the jurors thats sent someone to there death and found out that the prosecutor was vying for office and set someone up.
There are to many cases where innocent people are being convicted of crimes that they didn't commit. But this scum bag for should be one of those that gets castrated.
Posted by Early on May 1, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In1959, even if they have hard DNA evidence?
Posted by Girleygirl on May 1, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ln1959- Say IT AGAIN!!!
This scum bag deserve every thing he gets. They should cut off his...well you know what. To force yourself on a woman is a sign of a punk and his punk behind will pay for it in prison.
Now for the electric chair and hanging. Lets look at the case in Texas where a man just got out of jail after 27 years for a rape that he didn't commit. I am all for it, but can we be sure that innocent people are not being hanged. I would hate to be one of the jurors thats sent someone to there death and found out that the prosecutor was vying for office and set someone up.
There are to many cases where innocent people are being convicted of crimes that they didn't commit. But this scum bag for should be one of those that gets castrated.
Posted by bustin_ur_lies on May 1, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
coldbeer i entirely agree with you, if i could pass to rule, anyone who rapes or murders or all in one, would be executed, shooting an innocent-executed i wish me still stoned people, it would be fun to pelt those who cause others mass hurt for their own thuggish amusements, if you think your having some fun by raping someone, i swear people don't realize you can get a girlfriend have a good relationship and get the same thing out of a good relationship, i swear the dumb sh*t we got going on in our world today
Posted by ColdBeer on May 1, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When evidence makes it clear, beyond anyone's concerns, that someone committed these types of crime, they should be put to death. DNA evidence gives us that ability to prove someone positively guilty, just as it proves some not guilty.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 1, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bustin_ur_lies- I agree with you, Louisana state is trying to charge people that commit crimes against children or rape with the death penalty. Some lawyers do not agree with this law because they are saying that people may just kill the victims anyway once the law is in placed.