No Motive for Children's Murders Uncovered

Yesterday was a long and difficult day for the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office as they worked the scene of a shooting that left two children dead, their father fighting for his life and their mother charged with murder.

She is also charged with the attempted murder of her husband, Michael John Simpson, who remains hospitalized.

“No matter how tough a cop you are, no matter how many people you’ve prosecuted, it doesn’t matter who you are, when kids are involved it’s a whole different situation,” said Sheriff Rick Clark Tuesday. “It’s gotten to all of us today, it’s made us work extra hard to make sure we’ve gotten all the details. “

The investigation remains active, Clark said.

Simpson was involved in a motor vehicle accident after the shootings.

Simpson herself was injured and taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital. According to warrants, Simpson told an emergency room nurse, “I shot my kids then my husband and tried to shoot myself several times but couldn’t do it.”

Clark said Suzanna Simpson remains under guard at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Regarding a possible motive, Clark said, “I can tell you honestly we have no idea at this time.”

“There are many unanswered questions in this case,” he said.

Clark said some of those answers would not be revealed until the case reaches a courtroom.

“This case is far from over,” Clark said.  

He said investigators are still looking into prior calls at the home.

“It’s been minor things, like theft of an automobile, a couple of larcenies,” Clark said.

The investigation has revealed no previous criminal history for Suzanna Simpson, he said.

He said investigators know of no marital difficulties between Suzanna and Michael Simpson so far.

Clark said no domestic violence calls at the home have been uncovered as yet.

When asked if investigators were calling the case a domestic violence incident, Clark said, “We’re calling this a death investigation, a homicide investigation at this time.

“We’re too early in the investigation,” he said Tuesday. “We’re only 10 hours into this investigation.”

Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said during yesterday’s press conference that the case qualifies for the death penalty, because it involves multiple homicides and children under the age of 11.

“It certain does qualify statutorily,” Wilkins said. “But as in any case, we’ll let the Sheriff’s Office and all the law enforcement involved do their job and we’ll review the information as we get it. Right now we’ve got warrants for two counts of murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon and that’s what we’re focused on.

“You always pray that you never get that call that these cases occur, but today we got that call,” he continued. “Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement came together today.”

“Every community, no matter how great, has its tragedies and Pickens County’s experienced another one today,” Clark said at the press conference. “Our prayers and our thoughts are with the victims’ families and we ask that Pickens County join with us as we pray for these families to recover. We’re here for the family of these victims and we care for them very much.”

He said the deputies at the scene would also receive attention.

“Because they’re human and they came into this,” Clark said. “We’re going to make sure they’re all right too.”