3 days Ago
Eric Hempel On October 28, Eric Wade Hempel pled guilty to a charge of Desecration of Human Remains and was sentenced to nine years. Harry Barkley of Georgetown County went missing on August 28, 2020. An investigation into the missing person revealed Barkley had been shot and his remains were burned and buried.
Background into the case states during an interview with Shelby Ashby (now deceased), Ashby shared that Barkley came to her home in Georgetown County one night and the defendant, Hempel, shot and killed Barkley. Asbhy claimed that she and Hempel drove Barkley’s vehicle to Wee Tee State Forest, located on the Santee River Flood Plain in Williamsburg County. She said Hempel burned items out of Barley’s vehicle, then used an ax to hack up the victim’s body.
They then drove to another area on the property where Hempel tried to burn Barkley’s remains and buried them. He then disposed of the vehicle. Hempel’s nine-year sentence will run consecutive to the 10-year sentence that he received for a charge of Assessory After the Fact to Murder in Georgetown County on April 18.
The Williamsburg County Solicitor’s Office represented by Solicitor Ernest Finney, III and Assistant Solicitor Ella Alston extends its sincere appreciation to the Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Williamsburg County Clerk’s Office, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, and Georgetown County Solicitor’s Office for working together to bring justice in this case. In addition, the Solicitor’s Office extends sincere condolences to Harry Barkley's family for their patience and understanding throughout the long judicial process..
