Beaufort Co. family asking for answers after seeing multiple delays in loved one’s murder case

BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC. (WTOC) - A Beaufort County family is pleading for answers in their loved one’s murder case.

For the last several years, one family has watched the case of a man, accused of killing their loved one, get delayed over and over again in a Beaufort County courtroom.

Most recently, they found that another group of prosecutors from the state are now taking over, throwing another wrench in their quest for justice.

The case involves Dionte Mitchell.

He is accused of shooting and killing young stay-at-home mother Shaina Mulligan and 74-year-old Flora Mae Gantt after a fight at a party on Detour Road in Seabrook nearly four years ago.

“Shaina was a very sweet girl who was a stay-at-home mom who loved her kids. She could have worked if she wanted to work, but she stayed at home so she could raise her children. Very quiet and always stayed to herself,” said Shaina’s mom, Sherry Young.

Following the shooting, deputies say Mitchell left the state and wasn’t arrested until six months later.

That arrest took place in 2022, and Mitchell still hasn’t stood trial.

“Why is this case dragging along? Why, there have been other crimes that have happened after my daughter’s situation, and they have already gone to trial.”

In those three years, Mitchell has bonded out of jail, had a medical emergency, and has changed attorneys several times, delaying the start of his trial.

“It doesn’t matter what they do; justice is going to get served for my daughter.”

The 14th Circuit Solicitor’s office, which represents Beaufort and a few other counties in the Lowcountry, says they spoke with the family several times about the delays and other problems.

So, following these conversations, the office decided to recuse itself because they felt that was what the family wanted, and the case was reassigned to the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s office, which represents two counties in the Upstate.

Young says they weren’t notified of the change.

“They are not telling us anything. They’re moving the case around, shuffling this and that, but you are not reaching out to the family.”

Young also fears that the trial could be held in Spartanburg, which is three hours away, but the solicitor’s office tells us that Mitchell will still likely stand trial in Beaufort County.

The 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office tells us that Mitchell likely won’t stand trial until next summer at the earliest.