MONCKS CORNER, S.C.–On Tuesday morning, 26-year-old Arthur Chavis entered a negotiated plea in court for his role in the murders of Dana Woods, 18, and June Guerry, 22, in 2012.
The murders rattled the entire community of Berkeley County and attracted the attention of national media.
Chavis was charged with voluntary manslaughter, armed robbery and possession of a firearm for his involvement in the brutal killings of the two young women.
In order to avoid a trial and longer sentence, he pleaded guilty to all the charges and was sentenced to 25 years behind bars at a state penitentiary.
In court, the young man said very little, only speaking when the judge addressed him.
“As I’ve waited these last 2 years, 7 months and 26 days, I have only wondered ‘Why? Why did you two pick these two beautiful girls? June was a single mom who was just trying to raise her daughter right, and doing a dang good job at it! Dana, who had just turned 18 two months prior, was close to finishing her paralegal degree and was on her way to law school with a 3.8 GPA. My ‘Why?’ will never be answered because you and Matlock decided to plea.That’s fine, because that may have saved both our families additional pain,” stated Hill in court.
In August 2012 Caleb Matlock admitted to robbing and killing June Guerry, 22, and Dana Woods, 18, with his own gun execution style Authorities stated that Arthur Chavis helped Matlock carry out the crime.
“You might not have pulled the trigger that night, but you might as well have,” Hill told Chavis in court. “You knew we
were out searching for Dana and June, but you did nothing to come forward and help us find them. You could have told us where they were, and you might not be sitting here today. You two didn’t just ruin your own lives; you’ve scarred the hearts of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.”
Matlock eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, arson, armed robbery and a weapons charge. He was ultimately sentenced to 55 years behind bars.
In court, Chavis kept his head down, never once apologizing to the families of the two young women. Once court ended, the young man was escorted out of the courtroom.
For Hill, while she says she will never get over the loss of her daughter, she feels safer knowing that Matlock and Chavis will be locked up for a very long time.
“You two managed to make an entire community feel unsafe in their own backyards. But not anymore,” she told Chavis. “We are taking our community back and you two have lost your 15 minutes of fame. Our community will no longer mention you two boys when referring to Dana and June, Dana and June will forever live in all our hearts and memories as you two slowly age in a jail cell.”
Prior Stories:
- Caleb Matlock sentenced to 55 years for double murders
- After daughter’s killer sentenced, local mom demands change in law
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