Update on new charges 12-1-17 1:50 p.m.
In this new case, 37-year-old Stephanie Forde of Aiken, SC was charged today with possession of less than one gram meth 1st offense and shoplifting 1st offense
The charges are from the Aiken Department of Public Safety
——-
URGENT URGENT – S.E. Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-1-17 9:10 a.m. ET
Aiken, SC woman who witnessed murder of North Augusta Mayor – but was freed for testifying – is back in jail this morning as part of a probe in the city of Aiken – after skating on that murder and drug case 15 years ago
By Greg Peterson
S.E. Social Justice Breaking News
News Director/Co-owner
1-906-273-2433
(Aiken, SC) – A woman who skated on murder charges 15 years ago for testifying against in the shooting and stabbing death of a former North Augusta, SC mayor is back in trouble with the law.
37-year-old Stephanie Forde of Aiken, SC is being held for investigation this morning, Fri., Dec. 1, 2017 by the Aiken Department of Public Safety. Forde is lodged in the Aiken County Detention Center without bond “for investigation” by Aiken city authorities. She was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2017. And was a key witness of the former mayor’s murder.
Forde, then 22, was not prosecuted because she testified against co-defendant Eric Copeland, then 32, although he too received a sweet plea bargain after a jury could not reach a verdict in his trial.
Copeland was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading no contest to assault and battery with intent to kill in the death of 64-year-old former North Augusta Mayor Donald “Kim” Kimbrough Ledford. In exchange for the plea, officials dropped the murder, grand larceny and weapons charges that were filed against Copeland.
The murder and crack cocaine distribution charges against Forde were dropped. Forde testified she saw Copeland shoot Ledford four times as he slept in his bed
His shot and stabbed decomposing body was found in that bed in July 2002.
From 1981-1985 Ledford served as mayor of North Augusta, SC. After that his life went down hill. In 2002, Ledford was convicted of distribution of crack cocaine and marijuana and in 1999 on charges of drunken and reckless driving.
——-
Stephanie Forde of Aiken, South Carolina
Inmate ID#: 940752
Home Address City: AIKEN
Drivers Lic State: SC
Bio:
Sex: F Race: W Build: L
Height: 5-5 Weight: 147
Hair: BLN LONG Eyes: HAZ
Arrest Details
Agency Status Arrest Date Released
ADPS OPEN 11-30-2017 2:06 p.m.
Charge: HOLD FOR ADPS
Case #: Disposition: Open
——-
Agency Status Arrest Date Released
NAPS CLOSED 07-19-2002
20:55 02-06-2004
Date Released: 02-06-2004
Weekender: NO
Offense: MURDER/DIST.CRACK COCAINE
——-
Agency Status Arrest Date Released
SCHP CLOSED 02-21-2002
16:22 02-21-2002
Date Released: 02-21-2002
Weekender: NO
Offense: DRV.2FAST4COND./D.U.S. 1ST/IMPRO.LIC.DISPL
Charge: DRV.2FAST4COND.
Charge: D.U.S. 1ST
Charge: IMPRO.LIC.DISPL
——-
News coverage from 2002 of former North Augusta mayor murder:
http://www.wistv.com/story/1561576/man-sentenced-to-11-years-for-death-of-former-naugusta-mayor
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News 