Testimonies continue in day 3 of trial for woman accused in 2018 murder-for-hire plot in Horry County
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Friday marked day three of the trial for a woman accused in a 2018 murder-for-hire plot in Horry County.
Samantha Rabon faces two counts of murder, criminal conspiracy, solicitation to commit a felony and accessory before the fact to a felony.
Robert and Robbie Ford, both of whom lived in the Conway area, were killed in August 2018. A co-defendant, Randy Grainger, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2023.
Prosecutors say Rabon hired Grainger to kill her father and half-brother for inheritance money. First testimony started at about 9:50 a.m. Friday.
It was learned during the trial that Clemson University sent the Rabon family more than $7,000 in reimbursement four days after the alleged murders took place, along with condolences. Rabon was set to inherit roughly $170,000.
Court officials said more than 20 exhibits were traced for evidence in the trial. The first witness to take the stand Friday was Capt. Heather Wilson of environmental services with Horry County police.
Wilson said she was in charge of conducting searches at both Rabon and Grainger’s homes. She explained what her and her team look for during searches.
“Anything firearm related, casings, ammunition, paperwork, any documentation, bills, receipts, bank records, as well as anything related to the victims — Robert and Robbie Ford, and then anything that would connect Mr. Grainger to the defendant [Rabon],” Wilson said.
Police officers found the two men dead in the front yard after they were called to a home off Highway 19 to do a welfare check. Grainger was one of three people arrested two years later.
During closing arguments in Grainger’s trial, prosecutors said Grainger’s DNA was found on a skull cap and that Grainger allegedly was promised $20,000 if he killed the Fords.
Another woman, Theresa Martin, was also charged in the case and previously pleaded guilty as an accessory. Prosecutors said she introduced Rabon to Grainger.
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News13 has a reporter in the courtroom Friday and will have updates in our afternoon and evening newscasts.
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Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
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Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.
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