Dameion Edwin Thomas, a 38 year old Aiken County man, was found guilty of the murders of Charles “Buddy” and Andrea “Andie” Deas by an Edgefield County jury this week. The Honorable Frank R. Addy, Jr., sentenced Thomas to Life in the South Carolina Department of Corrections on both counts of murder. Under South Carolina Law, murder is classified as a “no parole” offense. 

Following the trial, Solicitor Rick Hubbard said, “This was an extremely difficult case that took a lot of hard-work on the part of the prosecution team and law enforcement. We hope the conviction and sentence brings closure for both of the victims’ families.” 

On October 9, 2016, a neighbor called 911 after seeing the home of Charles and Andrea Deas engulfed in flames on Marigold Street in Edgefield County. Firefighters quickly arrived on scene, testifying this week in court that it was apparent they were dealing with a recovery situation due to the amount of fire in the home. During the trial, the firefighters described entering the home and locating several deceased dogs in the living room prior to making it to the bedroom where the fire originated. In the bedroom, the bodies of Buddy and Andie were located badly burned. Buddy was found on the bed area and Andie was found on the floor. A firefighter also testified to retrieving the barrel of a .22 rifle in what was left of the springs of the mattress. 

On October 11, 2016, an autopsy was conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Janice Ross of Newberry. Dr. Ross determined Buddy and Andie died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest area. During the trial, Dr. Ross testified that both Buddy and Andie were shot from the back and they were dead prior to their bodies being set on fire. Fired projectiles were retrieved from both of their bodies and submitted to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division firearms department where the projectiles were determined to be .22 calibers. 

Law enforcement identified Thomas as a person of interest because he was captured on camera driving the victims’ vehicle and using their debit card during the time period they would have been dead. Testimony and evidence revealed at trial that Thomas killed the victims’ shortly after lunchtime on October 9th, drove around in their vehicle for several hours, and came back in the evening setting their bodies in the bedroom on fire. During the investigation, Thomas’ clothes and shoes were seized by law enforcement. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Forensic Unit tested Thomas’ clothes for Gunshot Residue (GSR) and the expert located GSR on Thomas’ shirt, pants, and shoes he was captured on video surveillance wearing shortly after the murders. GSR was also found on the steering of the victims’ vehicle that Thomas was last to drive.

Throughout the trial, testimony revealed that the Deas were having problems with Thomas and a relative of Thomas testified that Thomas stated that he had “killed two people.” Testimony also included statements made by Thomas that put him at the victims’ home during the time period of their deaths.

During the sentencing hearing, family members of the victims addressed the Court asking for the maximum sentence and describing the sense of betrayal they felt at the hands of Thomas. Judge Addy remarked that Thomas “took away all of the victims’ tomorrows” prior to sentencing Thomas to Life in prison without the possibility of parole on both counts of murder.

Assistant Solicitors Robby McNair and Sutania A. Fuller handled the prosecution of this case for the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The investigation was led by the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.