CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Tyler Terry and Adrienne Simpson, the suspects in at least four homicide cases in three states and a week-long manhunt in Chester County, pleaded guilty in court Wednesday morning.
Terry was charged in connection with at least four homicides in two states before his arrest in May of 2021. He also led Chester County police on a chase that led to an all-out manhunt before he was finally captured. Prosecutors said it was the most extensive manhunt in Chester County's history.
“More than 600 law enforcement officers at the state, federal and local level participated in this investigation in the hunt and capture of these individuals," Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey said after the sentencing.
The manhunt made local and national news. Terry's plea includes charges ranging from discharging a firearm to evading police and murder. He and his co-defendant, Adrienne Simpson, were suspected of setting a fire and then shooting at people at a mobile home in York County in May 2021.
Both Terry and Simpson will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, WCNC Charlotte's Richard DeVayne confirmed.
One by one, the families of victims lined up to speak in court on Wednesday, their lives forever changed because of Tyler Terry and Adrienne Simpson.
Among them was the mother of Eugene Simpson. Prosecutors said Adrienne Simpson was married to Eugene Simpson and the couple had two children. Simpson and Terry are accused of luring Eugene Simpson into the woods and killing him.
“Your honor, I just want you to know that my heart aches every day. I just miss him so much," Eugene Simpson's mother said in court.
In addition to Eugene Simpson's murder, authorities said the pair, who became known as Chester County's Bonnie and Clyde, embarked on series of crimes in South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri over a period lasting a few weeks.
“[Terry] threw away lives as casually as we throw away a wrapper from a piece of gum," York County Solicitor Kevin Brackett said.
TIMELINE: All of the cases involving Tyler Terry
After returning to South Carolina in mid-May, they led police on a chase during which the pair shot at authorities, barely missing deputies. Prosecutors said the chase ended when authorities successfully got Simpson and Terry to crash their car. At this point, Simpson was captured but Terry managed to escape and led hundreds of officers on a week-long manhunt into the woods along Highway 9 between Beaver Dam Road and South Carolina Highway 99 in Chester County. State and federal agents joined local authorities in the search for Terry, who was taken into custody without additional violence.
Terry has been linked to five total homicides, including two in St. Louis County, Missouri. He's was also convicted in two South Carolina killings.
After the sentencing, Terry stayed silent but Simpson spoke out.
“Words cannot express how much this affected me also and how I wish I could rewind the time and change what happened," Simpson said.
Simpson’s own sister did not buy the apology, saying she is just as guilty as Terry.
“Adrienne got what she deserved. I mean, she chose this path," Kristin Roof, Simpson's sister, said.
Simpson and Terry will appear in court in two other states, but only as a formality so the victims in those cases have a chance to speak.
Prosecutors agreed not to pursue the death penalty because those cases involve many appeals, making it harder for victims and families to move on.
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