Debra May Helmick News Today

Shari Smith abduction and murder: Shari Smith was abducted from her own driveway in 1985. Soon after, the phone calls began.

Larry Gene Bell was executed for killing two girls in 1985 by wrapping their heads with duct tape. One of the murders was the basis for a TV movie "Nightmare in Columbia County."

Minutes to return the verdict of guilty of kidnapping and first-degree murder. larry gene bell was sentenced to death by electrocution. >> that was the only punishment for him, and probably -- this is horrible to say -- too good of a punishment for him. >> he was tried separately for the kidnapping and murder of debra helmick. that jury returned the same verdict. ten years after his trial, larry gene bell became the last man to die in south carolinas electric chair. >> without that letter and wi...

University of south carolina. >> when questioned, bell denied any involvement in the murders of shari smith and debra helmick. >> the only thng he wanted to say over and over was this larry gene bell didnt do it. it was the bad larry gene bell. >> larry gene bell stood trial for the murder of shari smith in january 1986. >> in my closing argument, i told the jury, shari smith had the fortitude and courage to write out her last will and testament. and i put the pen that we took from the sheppards...

After the funeral of 17-year-old shari smith, her killer continued to taunt the family by phone. but he no longer had any interest in shari. >> have you heard about debra may helmick? >> no. >> the 10-year-old? h-e-l-m-i-c-k? >> richland county? >> yeah. >> uh-huh. >> listen carefully. >> two weeks after shari smith was kidnapped, debra may helmick was abducted in front of her parents trailer, 24 miles from the smiths home. her father was inside, just 20 feet away. neighbors saw someone pull up ...