New York man sentenced to life for murder of Hardeeville couple

JASPER COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - A Jasper County jury has found Charles Saunders guilty of murdering Bernard Lyles and Alesia Dykes, two beloved members of the Hardeeville community.

The conviction came after just over an hour of deliberation following a three-day trial. The judge subsequently sentenced Saunders to two consecutive life sentences plus five additional years to be served in state prison.

The Case

Saunders, a New York resident who was in town visiting his son in Jasper County, was accused of shooting and killing Lyles and Dykes inside a Hardeeville apartment in June 2024.

The victims died from three gunshot wounds sustained during an incident that began as a fight outside the apartment.

Throughout the trial, Saunders maintained that he acted in self-defense, arguing he was protecting himself and his child during the confrontation. However, the jury rejected this defense, finding him guilty on both murder charges.

Investigation Details

Authorities determined that only one gun was fired during the incident. Although no weapon was directly linked to Saunders, forensic experts testified that the other two guns recovered from the scene had not been discharged, suggesting a single shooter was responsible for all three gunshot wounds.

Family’s Grief and Loss

The families of the victims expressed their pain and loss before the sentencing hearing.

“He was ready to turn his life around, and he took that from him,” Bernard’s mother, Jordan Lyles, said. “He took that from me—to see what man my son would have become. But he took that from me.”

Charlie Roberts, Alesia Dykes’ father, spoke of his daughter’s dedication to family. “My daughter raised his son to manhood,” Roberts said. “I just want life.”

What’s Next

Saunders has twenty days to file post-trial motions, including a potential appeal of his conviction. During his opportunity to address the court following the verdict, Saunders maintained his claim of acting in self-defense during the 2024 incident.