Murder in the Midlands, Rita Y. Shuler
Murder in the Midlands, Rita Y. Shuler
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Murder in the Midlands
Larry Gene Bell and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina

Author: Rita Y. Shuler

Narrator: Ann Richardson

Unabridged: 5 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/08/2025

Synopsis

The full story of the infamous double murder featured on Discovery's FBI Files.

In this book, former South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) forensic photographer Lt. Rita Y. Shuler recounts twenty-eight days of terror and shocking developments in one of the most notorious double murders and manhunts in South Carolina history.

Shuler shares her own personal interactions with some of the key players in this famous manhunt and investigation. Also included are Bell's chilling calls from area phone booths to the Smith family, along with his disconcerting interviews and bizarre actions in the courtroom, which show the dark, evil, and criminal mind of this horrific killer. This is a comprehensive account of the case that has been featured on the Discovery Channel's FBI Files, in the CBS movie Nightmare in Columbia County, and on Court TV's Forensic Files.

About Rita Y. Shuler

Lieutenant Rita Y. Shuler was supervisory special agent of the forensic photography department of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for twenty-four and a half years. She interfaced with the Attorney General's Office, solicitors and investigators, providing photographic evidence assistance in the prosecution of thousands of criminal cases. Her interest in photography started as a hobby at the age of nine with a Kodak "Brownie" camera. Before her career as a forensic photographer, she worked in the medical field as a radiologic technologist for twelve years. Her interest in forensic science evolved when she X-rayed homicide victims to assist with criminal investigations. Shuler received her specialized law enforcement photography training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia, South Carolina, and the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She holds a special love for the South Carolina Lowcountry and enjoys walking, beaching, crabbing, fishing and shark tooth hunting. She resides in Johns Island, South Carolina.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Armand on March 29, 2020

Great insight into this case I'd never heard of until now. Bell was quite the character, and manipulative at every step. What a tragedy.......more

Goodreads review by Julie on June 10, 2020

This book was good, but not that good. The writing was good, but in telling the story, sometimes the dialogue just seemed forced to me. These were extreme circumstances for anyone to have to go through, so maybe that's how things went for them, but I just had a hard time getting into the story. The f......more

Goodreads review by Ronnie on August 05, 2019

I read another book by this author (SMALL-TOWN SLAYINGS IN SOUTH CAROLINA), and admired her for focusing on the victims rather than the perpetrator. The same goes for this book. As she puts it in the Author's Note, "Cases should not be remembered for the persons who did the crime. That would only gl......more

Goodreads review by Lulabelle42 on April 14, 2020

This book was a factual retelling of the kidnapping and murder of two young girls in Lexington, SC. As a crime book it clearly covered the impact on the families of the girls and their lives. It did rankle as it was clearly a "police are always good guys who triumph over evil criminals" point of vie......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on September 23, 2022

I remember hearing of the Shari case in my very early teens and being shocked and puzzled as well as frightened that someone could be taken from their own driveway so quickly and end up murdered.I learned a little bit more of the case over the years from TV after reading this book,Shari is a hero to......more

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