Oil Trail Leads Investigators to Suspect in South Carolina Homicide

The early morning hours of May 7, 2023, brought authorities to a secluded dead-end street in Greenwood, South Carolina, responding to a reported road accident. What they found was the body of 46-year-old Davis McClendon at the edge of nearby woods, alongside a mangled BMW 5 Series sedan, a shirt, and a shoe.

“

And there was significant damage to the fender.

Investigator Patrick Durkin, tasked with documenting the scene, noted significant, unusual damage to the BMW's fender. It was torn back, resembling a "tuna can," rather than the typical impact seen in a fender bender. This detail, along with McClendon's body being found about 50 feet from his car, raised questions about whether the incident was a simple hit-and-run or something more deliberate.

“

The front driver's side wheel was turned slightly –

Authorities learned more by speaking with Meredith Haynie and Megan McGovern, who had called 911. Haynie, who had been dating McClendon, stated that he had called her from the road saying he was parked at a specific intersection. Worried when he didn't return to the phone, Haynie and McGovern drove to the location, where they encountered the scene. Their statements provided a timeline and context to the events leading up to the discovery.

“

It had made authorities wonder if it was a hit-and-run or something more sinister.