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Arrest Made in 1996 Macedonia High School Fire

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell
Pictured: Macedonia High School in 1975

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Twenty-three years after it burned to the ground, an arrest has been made in the 1996 fire of Macedonia High School.

Sheriff Duane Lewis announced the arrest of Daniel Scott Harris, 40. The sheriff stated that Harris was 17-years-old at the time and an 11th grader who attended Macedonia High School.

“We believed that there are additional suspects out there that are on the loose,” stated Lewis. “If you know something about this individual or who his friends were at the time, please call us. We still have a lot of unanswered questions.”

The sheriff stated that the suspect’s fingerprints, which were found in a unique area of the school, led to Harris’ arrest. He is charged with second degree arson and burglary.

Harris has been processed through the Berkeley County detention center. According to the sheriff, a judge gave him a $20,000 personal recognizance bond.

Macedonia High School burned to the ground on August 4, 1996 around 3:30 a.m.

Pictured: Daniel Scott Harris (suspect)

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and SLED were called to the scene to investigate and were quick to label the fire suspicious. Authorities at the time stated there was evidence of forced entry. Investigators found a broken back window and overturned trophy case.

For residents of the Macedonia community, to learn that their beloved, historic school had been destroyed was beyond heartbreaking.

Pictured: Sheriff Duane Lewis announces arrest in Macedonia High School Fire

“There were many people who loved Macedonia High School. It embodied a connection to family and learning. When I close my eyes and think about the school, I think about those floors, those ceilings and all the times that were had there,” stated Sally Wofford, the Berkeley County School District’s board chair.

Wofford grew up in the Macedonia community, and was part of the final class to ever graduate from the high school. She stated during the news conference that she hopes the arrest brings the community closure.

“We are so heartbroken, but we are also relieved that maybe there can be closure that this can be put to bed and we are able to move on. This was a terrible loss of a beautiful historic building,” stated Wofford.

Janie Langley was the principal at Macedonia Middle School and was making plans to move into the old high school before fire destroyed it. During the news conference, she said she didn’t think she’d ever live to witness an arrest in the case.

“I can’t promise that I’m not going to cry because I am. That school was our heart for a wonderful community. People came together for their children to be educated and educated well. It was an amazing high school,” stated an emotional Langley. “The love that the community put into it, and then for our school to be burned, it broke our hearts.  In my heart, I knew that this case was going to be solved, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

For more than two decades, rumors swirled as to the real motive behind the fire. If you talk to some residents in the Macedonia community, they will tell you they firmly believed it was an “inside job.”

Pictured: Old newspaper clipping regarding the arson of Macedonia High School.

During that time, the majority of the people in the Macedonia community stood opposed to the school district’s plans to close the school and open the new Timberland High School. Despite the opposition from those in the Macedonia community, the district moved forward with closing the high school.

Shortly before Timberland High was ultimately scheduled to open for the first time in 1996, Macedonia High School was destroyed – some say “conveniently” – by fire. Some Macedonia residents saw the timing of the fire as too ironic.

The original plans were for Macedonia Middle School to expand into the old high school. Obviously, that never happened.

Timberland High ultimately opened shortly after Macedonia High School burned down. The new high school continues to serve students who live in Cross, St. Stephen and the Macedonia community.

Wednesday’s arrest squashes the rumors and speculations once and for all.
Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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