Two die in Florence workplace domestic shooting
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By Kevin Smetana and Jamie Rogers
Published: July 11, 2008
FLORENCE — A Darlington man shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself during an argument the two had at the woman’s job early Friday, Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said.
Robert L. Edwards, 64, and his wife, 61-year-old Miriam H. Edwards, died in the shooting, Florence County Coroner M.G. “Bubba” Matthews said.
It appears Robert Edwards shot his wife twice in the upper body with a .38-caliber revolver, then shot himself once in the head, Matthews said.
Florence County sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident about 10:30 a.m., Boone said.
An employee of Lewis-Goetz and Co., an industrial supplies distributor at 1207 Broughton Blvd., found the two dead behind the woman’s desk in a front office of the building, Matthews said.
An employee told Matthews that the husband of a woman who worked at Lewis-Goetz was in the building and arguing with the woman.
The employee told Matthews “he could hear something going on.”
The employee said it wasn’t clear if both people were arguing, but he said he heard the man “talking loud,” followed by loud noises, Matthews said.
Miriam Edwards had apparently been living at her late mother’s house in Florence, Matthews said.
Robert Edwards had been living with a close friend and former neighbor in Darlington for about a week prior to the shooting.
The friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he’d last spoken to Robert Edwards at about midnight Thursday.
“He sounded like he’d been drinking ... I’d told him before, ‘You’re welcome here, but no alcohol,” he said.
He said he told Robert Edwards he wasn’t allowed in the home Thursday, so he had apparently gotten a room at motel.
“He said, ‘I’m going to stay here and think things over,’ and I thought that sounded strange,” he said. “Sometimes I think and I feel guilty. Maybe it was something I said that made him go off and do that.”
The former neighbor said didn’t even know about the shooting until Darlington police, along with about eight deputies from the Darlington County and Florence County sheriff’s offices, showed up as his door Friday.
“I never would have thought in a million years Robert would do something like that. He had a gun I, knew about that,” he said, “… but I didn’t think he would. It must have been a bad argument.”
The neighbor said Robert Edwards had lived on his street for about five years before moving to a home in the Darlington County with Miriam Edwards. It was his second marriage, he said.
The couple had parted ways a few weeks ago, he said.
Darlington Police Capt. Danny Watson said police had a standoff with Robert Edwards at his home in 1996 because he was threatening to do harm to himself.
“He was intoxicated. The standoff lasted several hours, but the incident was resolved peacefully,” Watson said. “A weapon was supposedly in the home but we did not seize one.”
After that incident, police had no more encounters with Robert Edwards, Watson said.
Authorities said Robert Edwards had overcome an addiction but recently had a relapse.
“This was a very tough situation. Our heart goes out to the family,” Watson said.
Florence County sheriff’s deputies are still working with other agencies to determine how the situation developed, Boone said.
“I can tell you, there’s some history there,” Boone said.
Miriam Edwards had been employed with the company for about 10 years, Boone said.
“She was smart, well-educated. She was kind of the breadwinner in the house,” the Edwards’ former neighbor said. “They went to church together.”
Willy Richburg, general manager for the Midsouth region of Lewis-Goetz, arrived at the scene of the shooting a few hours after it happened.
“We’re saddened at the tragedy that happened here today,” Richburg said. “Right now we don’t have enough information to make a statement; however, we are gathering information, and as soon as we do have enough, we’ll be glad to make a statement.”
Mark Fisher, an employee at UMETCO, a cobalt alloy melting company beside Lewis-Goetz, said he didn’t hear any gunshots. He and other employees in the area stood outside their offices while authorities conducted their investigation.
The shooting shattered a peace that prevailed at the industrial park, Fisher said.
“It’s very, very quiet here,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know this industrial park is here.”
Shawnda McNeil, director of Heritage Community Services, which is across the street from Lewis-Goetz, said nobody from her company heard any gunfire.
“It’s (usually) very quiet and not much going on, so we’re kind of shocked that this would happen in this area,” McNeil said.
Lewis-Goetz and Co., based in Pittsburgh, recently purchased Samson Industrial, as the business in Florence was known.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( angelswalk ) on July 18, 2008 at 8:14 pm
another one gone. Sumter co. http://www.wpde.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=161215 This one brought up ptsd flashbacks for many ppl I am sure. don’t know if comments are posted there tho, mine isn’t and it has been all day. Concidering the topic, I said nothing that would keep it out of print.
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Posted by ( angelswalk ) on July 16, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Just say the truth.
It is true that each side of a story sounds different but it is not always true that the truth is in the middle somewhere. When the truth is spoken, it needs no lies to embellish it.
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Posted by ( angelswalk ) on July 15, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Amanda, please understand, no one is really attacking you or being harsh to you. If anything we are trying to protect you from leaving yourself or someone else you know, open to this same type of tragedy. If you deny it, you will more easily find yourself being just that, a victim. It isn’t an easy road to being a survivor, its extremely hard but very worth it.
Emotions run high when someone is passionate against this type of happening and thankfully people have spoken up.
The behavior does not start overnight.
I really don’t think anyone, as I said I don’t, mean to sound harsh to you.
Too many of us need to get our heads from up our ****** and get real.
Abuse or oppression of ANY kind has no place in our (so-called)civilized society. This is why there are such high rates of abuse, especially in South Carolina, because many of us are conditioned. As my fiance says, I just need to continue to deprogram myself from that.
Too many of us have been through it, to easily accept someone saying they understand.
Maybe you could somewhat understand the desperation an abusive person must feel, they cannot have a high opinion of even themselves or be happy at all, certainly no peace within themselves, but it is in their hands to CONTROL their own violent, hateful, behavior, not someone else’s.
Maybe when your emotions are calmer too, you can re-read some of this and understand we are just tired, mentally and physically, even financially stressed, of having people defend or appear to defend, an abuser.
Maybe you will see and hear the tears and blessings even for your family.
We know it must be horrible for you, in many ways.
I would even be glad to hear you, if I could and let you get all your stuff out. Not try to fix it for you but just so you could express your feelings. We all need someone to just HEAR us. Sometimes that makes all the difference.
The only rude comments I have seen so far, was from the one calling names. Which was totally inappropriate and out of line but because it was said here and did not even acknowledge sympathy of this crime committed, even it must be left posted.
This does not need to be forgotten and I hope this article is left here and continued to be added to, left here forever as a reminder to us all how easily an abuser can get to his victims. By the way, they don’t stop. It is part of them because they will not seek help to overcome their problems. They will not even acknowledge they have a problem and may hurt you badly if you say they do.
If you did not overlook abuse then hold your head high.
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Posted by ( ayerostron ) on July 15, 2008 at 1:31 pm
No, a wonderful husband does not murder his wife.
I didn’t mean to seem like I was condoning what he did.
I’m not saying he was right in any way, and I was very close to Aunt Miriam. She was my piano teacher, and I miss her more than any of you will ever know.
But these harsh comments must stop, I know what Uncle Robert did was wrong, but think of my family. We don’t know what to say, and we hate this happened, and we are getting somewhat of a ‘double dose’ because we were of course close to Robert and close to Miriam as well.
What I said before was in mere defense of Uncle Robert because many of these rude comments are made under assumptions and without knowing full details.
I wish this hadn’t happened, but I can’t change things now.
My family and I have done everything we can. We are grieving for the loss of both, but please, have some respect.
Sincerely,
Amanda.
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Posted by ( angelswalk ) on July 14, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Justme, you were not, or at least I saw nothing which could have been construed as being out of line in any way.
I took your comment as you meant it; ‘I have to bite my lip’ (for now because I can’t say too much’!). Many of us understand your feelings. We understand we can’t say too much when investigations are going on, but truth knows its place.
Truth can also literally make you sick if you have to hold it all in.
There is a right time for everything. Many times truth is overlooked until much too late. Most times delayed justice is no justice, or a tragedy.
Just as abusers strive to control every move the other makes, every word, trying to control even the others mind and thoughts, abusers know how to make themselves believable. Usually, they are praised for being great people.
I agree with you, if she or others had been taken more seriously, and not told ‘We’ll get back to you’ or ‘you’re in the wrong place’ or ‘sounds like he’s really sorry’, Miriam could be with us still.
I have been on too many ride-a-longs (NOT with Florence police, NOT with Florence deputies or troopers, to be very clear) where I would see the woman and oft times, scared children made to leave the home while the abuser stayed in ‘his’ home. NEVER did I see the man have to leave, unless it was a rare occasion that he clearly had to be arrested. I have seen women not have the abuser arrested because she was told she was going to jail also. The abuser always says the woman struck first or did the damage to herself! Normally women don’t want to fight like a man, they would rather try to use rational conversation, which is impossible and not allowed when dealing with the abuser.
Maybe the best you can do now is never let the daughter or others who tried to help Miriam, feel guilty in any way. They were brave trying to help her, actually, they were showing protection for someone they love.
They tried, along with their lost cherished one. And if they start feeling very outspoken about abuse, which also includes the name calling, humiliations, etc, encourage them; people have been ignorant too long.
For those who misinterpret, ignorance = not knowing, OR not caring to know.
Our Law Enforcement everywhere is actually NOT learned properly in domestic violence.
I am making NO insults or pointing fingers, so PLS no ONE go there.
Name calling is not conducive here. It always appears to be a symptom coming from the abusive nature, whether they let others see it or not.
I am simply stating a well-known fact.
In Florence County, Pee Dee Coalition would be the perfect Guidance for ALL OUR Law Enforcement to L e a r n from. I know they must have close work relations with each other.
It really is easier to just be happy.
For all those fearful of abusers, don’t worry. Better to have a great loyal loving partner who has only your and his best interest at heart than simply settle for what they make you think you deserve just so you aren’t alone. Don’t be desperate at all, learn what real care is. Possession is not love.
THANK YOU, SCNOW.com.
Seems the wrong people are apologizing here. We all have glitches, but some don’t need to have blame placed. I have learned to laugh at my computer rather than want to curse it.
Father, we thank you that Miriam is at peace now and can be hurt no more.She can rest and still watch her grandchildren grow. Her love is always strong for those she left behind. I know those of us who didn’t even know her, will never forget her.
May we all be better people because of Miriam, now. Your arms are around her and I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen
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Posted by ( justme ) on July 14, 2008 at 11:59 am
my “close family ties” come from the fact that my spouse is close to Miriam’s sister, and knew Miriam as well. my apologies if I was out of line. I was just a little outraged by the “wonderful husband” comment, because I have been “following” this since Mirium left her husband.
I “bit my lip” out of respect for “his” grieving family, and the whole “innocent until proven guilty” thing.
But, since things are now somewhat out in the open I want to somehow see that an investigation does not go stale. I dont know if scnow is aware of on-going investigations or not, but maybe if they look into it, they will find a story.
I’m afraid that this was a tragedy that could have, and should have been stopped.
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Posted by ( Ryan Mosier ) on July 14, 2008 at 11:18 am
For those of you who are wondering why only the 10 most recent comments are appearing, it is a technical issue we are aware of and working to correct. We do apologize for the inconvenience.
Ryan Mosier
Content Manager
SCNOW.COM
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Posted by ( angelswalk ) on July 14, 2008 at 11:08 am
Oh StacyMackes, God bless you and keep u safe, you brave person.
Thank you for standing up for the truth. It was hard to read for survivors because survivors know and remember exactly what you said.
That person who called me IDIOTIC did not hurt my feelings, I heard that word and other name calling many times. Even the bow-down remark!
Thank you for being on the floor, we need so many with the courage you have just shown.
Sorry, scnow, but another question.
What is happening to all the reader comments?
We need each and EVERY comment made to stay in tact and active here.
We don’t need to lose even one remark that has been made.
Thank you scnow very much and God bless scnow and all its hard working staffers.
I/we appreciate you all so much.
I certainly did not think you were bowing-down to anyone.
The picture you have now is most appropriate in that this was an abominable thing, people need to SEE the cost! AND WAKE UP!
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Posted by ( stacymackes ) on July 13, 2008 at 12:09 pm
First, I need to pick my jaw up off the floor. I CAN NOT believe what has been written by ayerostron.
I am not a niece, or related by marriage, I am an honorary family member, inducted by none other than Nanny, Miriam’s mother, who passed away just a few short weeks ago. My best friend is Miriam’s ONLY daughter.
A wonderful husband? Does a wonderful husband tell his wife that he is “jealous” of the time she is spending with her DYING mother?! Does a “wonderful husband” forbid his wife to hang a family heirloom picture of her mother in thir home because “I’ve NEVER hung a picture of someone in MY house”?! His house??!!
This event as you say “somewhat tarnishes his life”, but has TOTALLY ruined so many lives of those that love Miriam. Her unborn granddaughter, who is due in 8 weeks will never meet her loving Grandmother. A grandmother who was so proud to have that title, but will never live it.
This “wonderful husband” forbade Miriam to spend too much extra time with her daughter, he was so jealous and controlling.
And your “wonder” statement? YES, she did go to the authorities, as did her daughter & her sisters. She finally had the courage to leave, & this is what it got her. The police dept is looking into some past unsolved crimes, & his time will come. He may be dead but it’s not over.
Had the SYSTEM done what it needed to do, Miriam would stil be with us. Why had he not been arrested yet for his past crimes? Why was he still walking the streets with the info that they had? Had anyone thought Robert would have gone this far, Miriam would have been out of the country. We NEVER thougt in a million years it would end like this.
Miriam was planning her retirement, traveling, staying with her new Grandbaby, etc. She was trying to move on with her life, & put it back together the best she could.
ROBERT had the gall to call his family & tell them Miriam was leaving him because he had cancer?? How about she was leaving because he was an alcoholic & abusive? How could ANYONE know what kind of husband he was, unless you lived with him? Her daughter certainly knew.
I WILL NOT bite my tongue, but I understand why others will. Her family doesn’t want to stoop to some other people’s level, but I am proudly on the floor. Mirim’s family needs your thoughts & pryers, as do those who were her work family. None of us will ever forget her.
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Posted by ( angelswalk ) on July 12, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Ayerostron___I am sorry if I seemed harsh to you. I will pray for you, I know its hard because no one knows what to do when we do see or especially when we are living it. Everyone is afraid to get involved or thinks the abused person deserves what they get.
I do pray for you and your family and any violence that may have touched your life. We have to break those chains. This was without any reason, it always is, just please learn from this,there is no way to ‘understand’ this or even what leads to it. Many times nothing at all leads to it! I know many are praying for you and the others of his family also, learn and move forward to not let this have happened for nothing. One more voice, is one more. God bless
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