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05-15-2009, 02:31 AM
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Justicefor Wilma Ward: Arrest made in 26-year-old cold case
Posted: May 14, 2009 09:58 PM EDT
Updated: May 14, 2009 11:15 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A case of suicide more than 20 years old is back under investigation.
In 1983, Wilma Ward died where she worked in Columbia. Initially, it was ruled a suicide.
For 26 years, her sister Rachel Wadford never believed it to be a suicide; the signs of one were never there.
Rachel says she'll never forget growing up with Wilma.
"It's been such a long time, you know, thinking back about the type of relationship that we did have," said Rachel. "It really was indescribable."
Rachel was raised as an adopted child. Wilma, though 30 years older, was the big sister. If Rachel needed something, Wilma was there. "She was always doing for other people," said Rachel.
The two lived together and even traveled the country together. Until October 1983, when Wilma mysteriously died.
"I always looked at myself as a strong person, but I completely fell apart. I couldn't even function," said Rachel.
The 52-year-old was stabbed in the chest at her Columbia workplace.
"Not for one minute did I ever believe that she had killed herself," said Rachel.
But Rachel says the sheriff's department told her the case was closed.
Years passed. Rachel married and had kids.
"There was never, never a day that went by that I didn't think about her," said Rachel.
Rachel's life went on and for 24 years she had her suspicions, but it wasn't until she contacted an old acquaintance that her suspicions were validated.
He'd worked with Wilma and claimed to have information Rachel would want to hear. He agreed to meet her at a restaurant. It was there, Rachel says, that he laid it all on the table.
"He told me that She did not kill herself," said Rachel. "It was a conspiracy."
But that wasn't all. He also told her Wilma was not her sister; she was her mother.
"My heart just broke all over again. I just cried my eyes out," said Rachel. "It changed my perspective on a lot of things."
With the new information, Rachel went to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts. "This is one that just jumped off the page at us," Watts said.
He says he took a look at the original autopsy report and saw several red flags.
"This victim had several stab wounds to the chest, several to the heart, just that in itself is unusual," said Watts.
Watts says moreover, the angle of the wounds shows they came from the left. Wilma, was right handed.
"Two wounds actually penetrated the sternum, the bone in the chest, and penetrated the heart, which is extremely unusual for someone to do to themselves," said Watts.
Watts brought the case to Richland County's Cold Case detectives. He says further investigation showed inconsistencies in witness testimony.
After re-interviewing witnesses and re-examining the evidence, investigators arrested Jack Simpson. Jack was a coworker of Wilma's and was originally considered a witness.
Now, he's charged with murder.
"To finally hear someone say what I'd thought all these years, was like a burden lifted off of me," said Rachel.
It's one big step toward closure, but the revelations bring new questions like why and what happens now. The questions were made more important by the life Wilma missed according to Rachel.
"She missed my wedding. She missed my children. They missed her they didn't get to know her," said Rachel. "I there is one thing I could have I'd wish for another day with her. She was just gone too soon."
The reopened case is making its way through the solicitor's office.
We're told Jack Simpson, the man now charged with Wilma's murder, is out on bond.
Reported by Taylor Kearns (tkearns@wistv.com)
Posted by Jeremy Turnage (jturnage@wistv.com)
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Justicefor Wilma Ward: Arrest made in 26-year-old cold case
Posted: May 14, 2009 09:58 PM EDT
Updated: May 14, 2009 11:15 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A case of suicide more than 20 years old is back under investigation.
In 1983, Wilma Ward died where she worked in Columbia. Initially, it was ruled a suicide.
For 26 years, her sister Rachel Wadford never believed it to be a suicide; the signs of one were never there.
Rachel says she'll never forget growing up with Wilma.
"It's been such a long time, you know, thinking back about the type of relationship that we did have," said Rachel. "It really was indescribable."
Rachel was raised as an adopted child. Wilma, though 30 years older, was the big sister. If Rachel needed something, Wilma was there. "She was always doing for other people," said Rachel.
The two lived together and even traveled the country together. Until October 1983, when Wilma mysteriously died.
"I always looked at myself as a strong person, but I completely fell apart. I couldn't even function," said Rachel.
The 52-year-old was stabbed in the chest at her Columbia workplace.
"Not for one minute did I ever believe that she had killed herself," said Rachel.
But Rachel says the sheriff's department told her the case was closed.
Years passed. Rachel married and had kids.
"There was never, never a day that went by that I didn't think about her," said Rachel.
Rachel's life went on and for 24 years she had her suspicions, but it wasn't until she contacted an old acquaintance that her suspicions were validated.
He'd worked with Wilma and claimed to have information Rachel would want to hear. He agreed to meet her at a restaurant. It was there, Rachel says, that he laid it all on the table.
"He told me that She did not kill herself," said Rachel. "It was a conspiracy."
But that wasn't all. He also told her Wilma was not her sister; she was her mother.
"My heart just broke all over again. I just cried my eyes out," said Rachel. "It changed my perspective on a lot of things."
With the new information, Rachel went to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts. "This is one that just jumped off the page at us," Watts said.
He says he took a look at the original autopsy report and saw several red flags.
"This victim had several stab wounds to the chest, several to the heart, just that in itself is unusual," said Watts.
Watts says moreover, the angle of the wounds shows they came from the left. Wilma, was right handed.
"Two wounds actually penetrated the sternum, the bone in the chest, and penetrated the heart, which is extremely unusual for someone to do to themselves," said Watts.
Watts brought the case to Richland County's Cold Case detectives. He says further investigation showed inconsistencies in witness testimony.
After re-interviewing witnesses and re-examining the evidence, investigators arrested Jack Simpson. Jack was a coworker of Wilma's and was originally considered a witness.
Now, he's charged with murder.
"To finally hear someone say what I'd thought all these years, was like a burden lifted off of me," said Rachel.
It's one big step toward closure, but the revelations bring new questions like why and what happens now. The questions were made more important by the life Wilma missed according to Rachel.
"She missed my wedding. She missed my children. They missed her they didn't get to know her," said Rachel. "I there is one thing I could have I'd wish for another day with her. She was just gone too soon."
The reopened case is making its way through the solicitor's office.
We're told Jack Simpson, the man now charged with Wilma's murder, is out on bond.
Reported by Taylor Kearns (tkearns@wistv.com)
Posted by Jeremy Turnage (jturnage@wistv.com)
http://www.wistv.com/images/static/gfx/pxl_trans.gif