Move over Dexter Morgan: according to reports, a South Carolina couple allegedly used their state’s sexual offender list as a “hit list” for their own murderous purposes. Thankfully, last month they were apprehended after images taken by their first and only victim’s security camera system caught them entering the home just before the crime.
Jeremy Moody and his wife Christine allegedly shot and stabbed registered sex offender and mechanic Charles Parker and his wife Gretchen after they were invited into the Jonesville home by the couple. Parker’s wife, although not initially planned as a target, was killed because she was in the home at the time.
Video taken at the Parker home by their security camera shows Jeremy Moody popping the hood of their car in front of the Parker home and then speaking to the victims for about ten minutes before being welcomed into the home with Christine.
“He planned to kill this individual last year, but chickened out,” Union County Sheriff David Taylor said. “But on Sunday, he decided he was going to kill him.”
After admitting to the crime, Jeremy, who sports a “Skinhead” tattoo across his throat, described his last words to Parker: “You think I’m here to rob you. I’m not here to rob you. I’m here to kill you because you are a child molester.” The 36-year old only knew his 59-year old victim in passing and entered the home despite a smiley face sign in front of the residence declaring they were “on camera”.
Parker was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual assault almost a decade ago. However, Parker was not a child molester. Records show the charges which resulted in him being on the registry involved an adult and that the mechanic always registered on time and never gave authorities any further trouble after the conviction.
The Moodys, according to authorities, saw themselves as “vigilantes” that were just getting started. Sherriff Taylor reported the second murder was planned to occur the day after Moody was apprehended and that he hinted after confessing he may have committed other crimes against people he despised. Other nearby law enforcement agencies have been contacted in light of this information, but no further charges have been filed.
Christine Moody reportedly has not been found to have had any part in the actual murder but is still being charged with the crime because she both knew the murders were going to occur and was at the scene of the crime. Currently, the couple is being held in Union County Jail where they will remain until their next hearing in October.