Jury convicts Ridgeland man in 2019 Shell Point hit-and-run death

RIDGELAND, S.C. (WTOC) - A Beaufort County jury has convicted a Ridgeland man in the 2019 hit-and-run death of a pedestrian in Shell Point.

Clinton Lee Anthony Brown, 41, was found guilty of hit-and-run resulting in death in the death of Redeidre Holmes. Circuit Court Judge Carmen T. Mullen sentenced Brown to eight years in prison, three years of probation and a $10,000 fine.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a separate charge of driving under the influence resulting in death.

According to prosecutors, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a fight at a party on Cleveland Drive on Aug. 22, 2019. Holmes left the party as the fight began. Minutes later, Brown drove away from the scene in a Dodge Ram pickup while deputies were still present and struck Holmes at about 8:25 p.m.

Investigators said Holmes was thrown nearly 40 feet into a roadside ditch. Brown’s truck sustained damage to the passenger-side headlight and hood. Although Brown stopped a short distance away, he drove off without rendering aid.

Brown later told investigators he believed he had struck a mailbox and returned to the scene with his stepfather about 45 minutes later, where they found Holmes face-down in the ditch.

Emergency responders transported Holmes to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A forensic pathologist determined she died from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team determined Brown was traveling between 23 and 28 mph in a 20-mph zone. Investigators also found he was driving without a license.

Assistant Solicitor Jared Shedd prosecuted the case, calling 16 witnesses over two days of testimony.