Man faces murder charge in fatal beating
Gregory Anthony Keitt accused of killing friend over jar of coins
By Glenn Smith
Wilton "Bob" McFaddin Jr. spent his life teaching children, serving his church, helping others. But in the end, that vibrant spark was snuffed out over nothing more than a jar of coins he kept for the laundry machine, authorities said.
Gregory Anthony Keitt (left) is accused of beating Wilton 'Bob' McFaddin Jr., who later died.
Gregory Anthony Keitt, a man McFaddin befriended and took into his West Ashley apartment, is accused of punching the 66-year-old retired teacher several times in the face and head April 10 after the two men argued over a coin jar. The beating sent McFaddin to the hospital, where he died three days later, Charleston police said.
Keitt, 41, now faces a murder charge in the killing of his benefactor. He remained Monday night in the Charleston County jail, where he was being held without bail.
Born in Sumter, McFaddin came to Charleston several years ago to work for the Charleston County School District, first as a teacher and later as a speech therapist. He preferred to work in the district's inner-city schools, where he felt he could do the most good, said his sister, Diane Turbeville of Columbia. He loved working with kids and had a genuine thirst for knowledge. He attained several degrees, including master's degrees in piano and speech therapy, she said.
"Bob was a very talented, educated and intelligent man," Turbeville said. "And he was always a giver. He always gave far and above what was required of him."
McFaddin befriended Keitt several years back while pursuing his speech therapy degree at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, Turbeville said. Keitt worked as a custodian at the school, and the two formed a friendship that continued after McFaddin graduated.
After McFaddin had heart valve surgery a couple of years ago, he invited Keitt to stay at his Carriage Lane apartment in exchange for help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and other chores, Turbeville said. It proved a beneficial arrangement for both men until recently, she added.
McFaddin, who retired from the school district last year, became increasingly worried about Keitt's behavior, Turbeville said. "He said Greg became unstable and violent. My brother was afraid of him."
Keitt's behavior had caused him trouble with police as well, with a criminal record dating back to 1986 and convictions for disorderly conduct, criminal domestic violence and driving under the influence, State Law Enforcement Division records show. In February, Charleston police arrested him on charges of felony cocaine possession with intent to distribute.
McFaddin wanted to get Keitt out of the apartment, but it was difficult, since Keitt's name was on the lease. McFaddin finally decided to leave, and he was in the process of packing to move to Columbia, Turbeville said.
The situation erupted, however, on the night of April 10, when McFaddin accused Keitt of taking a jar of quarters he kept for laundry, police said. Keitt denied taking the coins and reportedly punched the older man several times, knocking him unconscious, police said.
After he came to a half-hour later, McFaddin called police and told them what happened. Officers noted a severe cut over his left eye and bruising to both eyes. His blood was all over the apartment. Keitt was gone, police said.
McFaddin was alert when transported to Medical University Hospital and at first seemed to be improving, Detective Sgt. Barry Goldstein said.
But he lost so much blood that his brain was traumatically impaired, and he slipped into unconsciousness early the next morning, Turbeville said. He never awoke and was on full life-support when he died, she said. His exact cause of death is still pending, authorities said.
His family considers it a blessing that doctors could harvest his organs to help others. His liver went to a needy patient in New York; his kidneys to a recipient in South Carolina. "My thought is that he died as he lived — being selfless," Turbeville said.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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barracho (anonymous) says...
Well,, what have we learned here?
April 21, 2009 at 3:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sig (anonymous) says...
Another druggie scumbag that needs to be put to death as soon as convicted! That is why you can't help people for the most part. Try to help someone like Mr. McFadden did and it cost him his life.
April 21, 2009 at 5:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spengler (anonymous) says...
these crackheads sure are impatient. I'm sure Oboy's stimulus handouts are right around the corner!
April 21, 2009 at 6:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
Try him and execute him immediately...scumbag!
April 21, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
No good deed goes unpunished.
April 21, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BootstrapRed (anonymous) says...
He killed the man for a jar of coins? Just makes no sense.
April 21, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
you can take the animal out of the jungle but you can't take the jungle out of the animal...
lesson - there is no help for repeat offending thugs, sooner or later they will repeat again... on you
"try" to make a difference to inner city kids and where does it get you? ahemmm dead n beaten...
April 21, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
noseygirl (anonymous) says...
Jammer,
It appears you have taken something out of context here. The reporter states that he met Keitt while he was pursuing his degree. Keitt was an ADULT, not a CHILD. Mr. McFaddin, bless his soul, chose to work with inner city children; however, these children are not responsible for his death.
April 21, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Mr. McFaddin's kindness and generosity was rewarded with anger and violence.
Simple as that.
Apparently this gentleman was kind, generous and gave a great deal to our community. His family's loss is also a loss for South Carolina.
As for his killer, he should be proufoundly punished and never see the light of day.
April 21, 2009 at 12:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
noseygirl, don't ruin jammer or any other bigots fun. The dude was black. Nice dramatic story line.
April 21, 2009 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
McFadden must have been a gentle soul to have been so fearful of that bully. One man willing to kill for some change and another willing to die for the same change...wnat a mess.
April 21, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
regulardude (anonymous) says...
Noseygirl - UrGatorbait is right, don't waste your time with idiot scumbags like jammer. As gatorbait stated, "The dude was black. Nice dramatic story line".
Jammer - "try" to make a difference to inner city kids and where does it get you? ahemmm dead n beaten...
Wow......that is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in months.
April 21, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
herewego (anonymous) says...
This is truly a sad story. I hope that Keitt is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
April 21, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gingerlatte (anonymous) says...
Someone ought to beat that sack of garbage with the jar he tried to steal. How pathetic do you have to be to kill someone over some quarters.
April 21, 2009 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JH09915 (anonymous) says...
I just have to wonder what McFaddin was thinking when he allowed this damn thug to move in with him..
Just seems to me that we are not getting the true and complete picture here..
April 21, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Two_Sheds (anonymous) says...
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. This story is sickening. Of course, this guy doesn't exactly look like someone I'd allow to just waltz into my house and set up residence...
April 21, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
my bad noseygirl, you're right...
I just took it for granted that it was a story repeated many times over in this country about older white people trying to help younger thugs in inner cities that seem to way too often turn on them beating and killing them
I should have read THIS article a little closer... but the end result was the same, older white guy gets killed by a thug he tried to help
some call it racism, most just call it the hard cold truth
April 21, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dis (anonymous) says...
{{Posted by CrackerJack01 on April 21, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
...And they wonder why racism still exists. Here is a white guy, obviously trying to help another human being (if you can call him that) without regard to his race or background, and look what happened....}}}
Interesting-I remember a few years ago I was jogging at a track in Columbia, and I noticed a small white child wander away from his mother and straying toward a busy street. Mother was too far away to catch him, so I ran over and grabbed him right before he ran into traffic. Mom looked up and screamed "That black guy is taking my child!!" Cops came out of nowhere, and was in the process of taking me to jail before several people who saw the entire incident intervened. Cops (white) apologized-mother did not.
Now--this is not on the same level as a murder, but if I shared your same mindset, I would refuse to assist any white person (child, elderly, etc.) that needed assistance again, because "racisim exists". Yep, it still does. But I'm bigger than racism (and racists). And looking at some of the statements made here, happier than many as well.
I hope that guy gets his just due in the worst way--but those who say "this is why you don't help others" are usually those who don't help anyone anyway--regardless of race. Horrible murders are committed by horrible people every day. This murder is no less horrible than the murder committed by a middle-class white professional in suburban MD yesterday (killed his wife and three kids). I take that back--killing the kids make it worse. But my point is that it would be worse whether the killer was black or white.
April 21, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
there's more to this story...too many questions left unanswered.
April 21, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
itten1 (anonymous) says...
Bob was a friend of mine, as was Greg. I've known them both for a number of years. Greg was once a very "sweet person". He helped me around the house at times and helped me move a few years ago. I would never think he would kill someone, but I was unaware he was involved with drugs and I believe that was the cause of the tragedy. He changed I don't excuse Greg for what he did at all. The law, hopefully, will decide his fate.
April 22, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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