The Complicated Tale of a Gamecock: Why I Moved to South Carolina

I was born in South Carolina, a Garnet and Black kinda guy through and through. But the story of why I ended up there is far more complex than just my love for Gamecock colors. It's a tale that spans decades and almost ended in tragedy.

From Maryland to the Firing Line

Back in 1990, I was a 17-year-old punk rocker living in Westminster, Maryland, right outside Baltimore. I was known for being wild and not caring much about anything. On that fateful day, me and a few buddies were at the town square, and we had been drinking and taking drugs all day. We had run out of alcohol and money, and we needed more. That's when we decided to rob some people who drove by. We convinced them to buy weed and then forced them to drive us to the middle of nowhere. That's when we crossed the line—we hog-tied them with shoelaces and tried to bury them alive. We even took their car and everything else. Thankfully, we didn't know that a hunter dressed in camouflage was downstream, watching everything we did. After we left, he rescued the victims and called the police. It didn't take long for the authorities to catch up with us. I ended up serving seven years in prison, starting at the age of 17. After finishing almost two years, I escaped and went on the run for five years.

A New Start in South Carolina

South Carolina was the farthest I got from home during my time as a fugitive. It was there that I met a girl and had a family. However, the authorities eventually caught up with me, and they extradited me back to Maryland. I spent months in jail awaiting my trial. When I finally appeared before a judge, something had changed. I had grown, learned from my mistakes, and didn't have any new charges for the five years I was on the run. I pleaded my case, asking to be released so I could return to South Carolina and start a new life with my family. The judge granted my request, and that's when I made the difficult move to South Carolina, never to return.

Reflections and Lessons

Now, decades later, I can look back on that time with a mix of regret and gratitude. The experience in South Carolina taught me the value of home and family. Even though my early life was steeped in recklessness, it ultimately led me to a place where I was able to turn things around and start anew. I’m proud to call South Carolina home now, and I celebrate the rich history and traditions of my hometown every day, especially with my favorite colors, Garnet and Black.

In the end, my story is about redemption, forgiveness, and a second chance. If you ever find yourself in a situation like mine, it's never too late to change and begin anew. Even in the most complicated of tales, there can be a happy ending.