'Kelly’s Kitchen' named for slain cafe employee
One year after the slaying of Columbia native Kelly Hunnewell, a baker at the Carolina Cafe and mother of four, the store’s owners have opened a new location and named the kitchen in her honor.
A plaque that hangs in the kitchen reads “Kelly’s Kitchen,” in honor of the slain employee who would be working at the new store at 2250 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia.
Lauren Schlueter, co-owner of Carolina Cafe at 13 Tommy Circle off Beltline Boulevard, said Hunnewell was going to be named the new restaurant’s third in command.
“She was someone, that given the opportunity that we gave her, pulled herself up by the bootstraps and had the most incredible work ethic,” Schlueter said. “She was kind, happy and always a positive, and a loving mother.”
The 33-year-old was murdered by three teenagers during a robbery attempt on July 1, 2013. Hunnewell was the only employee working at 3 a.m. that night at Carolina Cafe. The store operated as a bakery for the popular Carolina Cafe bagel shop at the foot of the University of South Carolina’s Horseshoe and near the State House.
Police said that Hunnewell resisted when the three suspects entered the store and was shot multiple times. The suspects fled the scene empty-handed after they found no money in the store’s cash drawer.
Lorenzo Young and Troy Stevenson, both 18 at the time of Hunnewell’s murder, were out on bail approved by circuit court judges after local bonding companies posted their bail. Both men had prior records including arrests for serious crimes and were awaiting trial for those charges.
The third suspect, a 16 year old, was arrested for his involvement in the slaying and will be tried as an adult.
Nancy Hunnewell, Kelly’s mother and caretaker of two of her children in Elloree, said that she was in disbelief when she heard of her daughter’s death.
“This isn’t true; it didn’t happen,” Nancy Hunnewell said. “Who would want to hurt her? It was so senseless. If those guys were in jail like they were supposed to have been it wouldn’t have happened.”
Nancy Hunnewell said the other two children live with their father.
Following Hunnewell’s death, a rally was held in August which included a march from the Carolina Cafe, at the corner of Sumter and Pendleton Streets, to the State House. The rally concluded with speeches about bond reform and recent problems with the criminal justice system.
State Attorney General Alan Wilson, who spoke at the rally, remembers being inspired by the composure of Hunnewell’s family during the rally.
“I met with (Kelly’s) family and children and I could feel the pain these young kids had,” Wilson said. “It made me think about my children and my family and I hurt so bad for them.”
Wilson said he asked for funding for extra prosecutors to represent the bond court but it was never cleared by the Legislature.
“We have go to find a way to close the loopholes so that guys like these can never get out on bond,” Wilson said.
After Hunnewell’s death, a GoFundMe page was set up to seek financial support for the two children under Nancy Hunnewell’s care. The page reports more than $10,000 has been collected so far but that is short of the $20,000 goal.
The fundraiser is not associated with the Carolina Cafe, but Schlueter said the store did have a fundraiser to help Nancy Hunnewell care for the children.
“We did a fundraiser at the cafe and presented a check to the grandmother for about $6,000,” Schlueter said.
Nancy Hunnewell said she feels honored that the new bakery’s kitchen has been named in her daughter’s honor.
“Immediately you love her,” Nancy said. “I have never known her to hate anybody and she loved anybody’s children as if they were her own.”
The 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office could not be reached for comment regarding when the three suspects charged in Hunnewell’s slaying
This story was originally published June 30, 2014 at 10:01 PM with the headline "'Kelly’s Kitchen' named for slain cafe employee."