William Pierce, Jr.

William "Junior" Pierce was convicted of raping and murdering Margaret "Peg" Cuttino, 13, the daughter of a South Carolina state senator. The crime occurred in December 1970 in Sumter County, South Carolina. Cuttino was reported missing on December 18 and her body was found on December 30. Pierce, who had an IQ that "barely broke 70" and who was a known serial confessor, confessed to this murder apparently after being tortured by Sheriff "Red" Carter. A document supports Pierce's contention that his confession was coerced by physical abuse consisting of burns, bruises, and cuts to his "privates."

In order to convict Pierce the prosecution theorized that Cuttino was murdered on December 18, but when her body was found, the sperm evidence was not much degraded and this evidence implied that she was not killed before December 25. Public disagreement with the verdict arose starting with an uncalled witness who allegedly saw Cuttino on the afternoon of December 19. The county coroner joined the opposition. Because of new evidence that arose following the conviction, it is highly likely that Pierce would be acquitted if he could get a retrial, but getting a retrial because of new evidence is very difficult under South Carolina law. New technology raised the possibility of DNA testing, but the authorities contend Hurricane Hugo destroyed the biological evidence in 1989.

Pierce is not a glamorous defendant, having been convicted, after confessing, to three murders in Georgia, perhaps because of techniques similar to those used by Sheriff Carter. Public opposition to the verdict seems surprising since an acquittal would do little to free Pierce, but physical evidence that Cuttino was killed much later than December 18 seems compelling and such a finding would exonerate Pierce.

References

* [http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/peggy_cuttino/index.html Crime Library]