Family tortured, gun held to child’s head in Richland County home invasion

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is offering a reward of up to $6,000 for information leading to the arrest of eight suspects wanted for kidnapping, armed robbery, assault and battery after they forced their way into a Gadsden home and demanded money from the residents.

The eight assailants knocked on the door of a home in the 7800 block of Bluff Road dressed in camouflage on July 20, claiming to be law enforcement, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. He gave this account:

The assailants forced their way into the home with handguns, asking for money, and tied up the four residents – 2 men, ages 42 and 20, a woman, age 21, and a 1-month-old child.

When the victims did not come up with money, the suspects turned on the stove, heated cooking utensils and burned the victims, except for the child.

The suspects then took several vehicles to homes of the victims’ family members in northeast Columbia and Sumter to collect money. At one location, the victims escaped with the help of concerned citizens.

Matt Walsh

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 3:20 PM.