$2000 reward offered for information after woman found dead in Pelzer

PELZER, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for information after a woman was found shot dead in her bedroom back in April.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, on April 2, deputies were notified of a gunshot victim.

On scene, they found 21-year-old Charity Southerland had been shot to death in a home on Eastview Drive in front of her three-year-old son.

Southerland’s dad said he was asleep and woke up to a noise during the night. He thought his cat knocked something over and he went back to bed.

“That’s what it sounded like. It didn’t sound like no gunshot,” Charity’s dad, Linnie Southerland said.

The next day he found his daughter’s body on the floor in her room.

“I seen the door cracked and I actually looked in and said what are you doing in the floor, Charity? I turned the light on and of course horror,” Linnie Southerland said.

Charity’s family said her three-year-old son, Raheem, was the only witness to her murder.

“I was devastated, especially with Raheem right there with blood on his face. He was playing while she’s lying there,” Linnie Southerland said.

The family said the two were inseparable and witnessing his mom’s death has already taken a toll on the little boy.

“He was in the room and that’s terrible for him to see that. Even after they had shot her he was in there with her and it breaks my heart that he had to see that,” Charity’s mom, Phema Southerland said.

Though questions still linger, Charity’s family is sure of one thing: she knew the person that killed her.

“Someone deliberately planned something with my daughter and I don’t know what happened. We’re clueless. They planned it because we were all asleep. She knew them because she let them in.”

So far, no arrests have been made.

Deputies are now offering up to $2,000 for any information leading to an arrest.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, call CRIMESTOPPERS at 23-CRIME.

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