South Carolina man who killed 5 while high on meth learns fate

James Douglas Drayton, a 28-year-old man, was sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to the murders of five people in Spartanburg County. The horrific incident took place in October 2022 when Drayton, under the influence of methamphetamine and sleep-deprived, took the lives of the victims inside a home known for drug use.

In a statement by Solicitor Barry Barnette, it was revealed that Drayton admitted to the killings in exchange for the prosecution not seeking the death penalty. The plea deal also included Drayton waiving his right to appeal, ensuring that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

The motive behind the killings was not disclosed by prosecutors. Drayton, in his statement to investigators, mentioned that he was high on drugs and hadn’t slept for four days when he committed the heinous act. The victims, all men, were shot at close range, with some of them still asleep when Drayton pulled the trigger.

Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright expressed his dismay over the tragedy, emphasizing that regardless of their backgrounds, the victims were someone’s loved ones and deserved better. The victims were identified as Thomas Wayne Ellis Anderson, 37; James Derrick Baldwin, 49; Mark Allan Hewitt, 59; Adam Daniel Morley, 32; and Roman Christean Megael Rocha, 19.

Drayton was apprehended the following day after a police chase in Burke County, Georgia, about 145 miles away from the crime scene. He was found in possession of one of the victim’s vehicles and the weapon used in the murders.

During the court proceedings, family members of the victims expressed their support for the plea deal and the life sentence handed to Drayton. They shared the impact of the tragic loss on their lives, highlighting the devastation caused by Drayton’s actions.

The sentencing of James Douglas Drayton brings a sense of closure to the families of the victims, although the scars left by the senseless killings will forever remain. The community mourns the loss of five individuals whose lives were cut short in a senseless act of violence.