Police seek suspect in 'bloody, brutal' death
West Columbia police are searching for a suspect in the Monday afternoon killing of a woman.
"It was a bloody, brutal scene," said Lt. Scott Morrison.
A suspect in the case is Gerardor Villarreal Rodriguez, 39, who is about 5-5 and 150 pounds, police said.
Police have asked that anyone with information about the killing call (803) 794-0721.
Rodriguez is believed to have been driving a 2003 silver or gray Dodge Ram four-door pickup.
The killing took place at 1712 Burham St.
Police did not have the victim's name or age or the method of killing immediately available.
- John Monk
Woman unconscious a week after wreck
Deborah Rubens remained unconscious Monday at Palmetto Health Richland hospital.
Rubens was seriously injured nearly a week ago when the car she was driving was struck by an SUV driven by Columbia Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin.
Citing privacy laws, hospital officials have declined to provide additional details.
- From Staff Reports
Richland 2 to hold budget hearing today
Richland 2 will hold its second public hearing on the proposed 2010-11 budget at 5:45 p.m. today.
It will be at Summit Parkway Middle School, 200 Summit Parkway. The school board's regular meeting will follow.
- From Staff Reports
S.C. Teacher of the Year to be announced
Five finalists will learn this week which one of them has been selected S.C. Teacher of the Year.
The finalists are Kelly Nalley of Fork Shoals School in Pelzer; Melody Johnson of Lugoff Elementary; Julia Goodman Marshall of Oakdale Elementary in Rock Hill; Samantha Maddox of Spartanburg High; and Libby Ortmann of Alice Drive Middle in Sumter.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony Wednesday night in Columbia. She will serve a one-year residency at the state Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement. The winner also will receive $25,000 and a BMW X5 48i to use for a year.
- From Staff and Wire Reports
Event at State House to encourage walking
Health screenings, chair massages and music are among the activities planned for Wednesday's National Walk @ Lunch Day community event at the State House.
The event, set for 11 a.m.-2 p.m., is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to walk along a course on the State House grounds and to make a commitment to exercise regularly.
Palmetto Health and Providence hospitals will provide blood pressure and body mass index screenings during the event, and the Southeastern Institute will offer free chair massages.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, which sponsors the event, will give away water bottles, bottled water and T-shirts, while supplies last.
The walk is one of many planned nationwide Wednesday. Those who cannot attend one of the public walks are encouraged to take a lunchtime walk at or near their workplaces.
- From Staff Reports
This story was originally published April 26, 2010 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Police seek suspect in 'bloody, brutal' death."