William C. “Billy” Sellars, a 35 year old Aiken County man, has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison for the death of Johnny Hydrick, age 50, of Trenton. Hydrick was murdered in his home at 103 Windy Ridge Road in the early morning hours of October 10, 2014.

The verdict was returned earlier this afternoon following jury deliberations for one hour and forty-five minutes. The sentence was imposed by Circuit Court Judge Eugene C. Griffith, Jr. after a week long jury trial. Sellars was sentenced to life without parole as a result of a prior conviction for Armed Burglary of a Dwelling, a violent crime, in the State of Florida in 2003.

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated, “I’m very proud of the hard work of our prosecution team. We hope this verdict brings closure and a sense of justice to the family of Johnny Hydrick.” The case was prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes and Assistant Solicitor Robby McNair.

Hydrick was found beaten and bound with duct tape on October 11th when a relative went to check on him. Hydrick was disabled and living alone at the time of his murder. The investigation conducted by the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office determined that Hydrick was beaten and robbed of money and his prescription pills. Several firearms in the home were also stolen during the robbery.

An autopsy conducted by Dr. Janice Ross in Newberry determined that Hydrick sustained multiple injuries as a result of blunt force trauma. He suffered numerous contusions to the head, facial lacerations, and a fractured nose.

Following the murder, the investigation determined that Sellars returned to Aiken County and attempted to sell or trade the prescription pills and guns stolen during the robbery. Later, as a result of information obtained by investigators, Sellars was arrested on October 30, 2014 at his home on Vincent Avenue in the Crosland Park area of Aiken.

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office worked in conjunction with numerous law enforcement agencies during the investigation, including the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) forensics crime lab, Inv. Jeremy Hembree of the Aiken Department of Public Safety, and Detective Brian Travis of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. The investigation remains ongoing regarding accomplices who may have aided Sellars in the murder of Hydrick.

Family members of Johnny Hydrick were present for the trial and sentencing of Sellars in Edgefield County. Hydrick had been a long time resident of the Trenton area.