Man gets life for 1986 kidnap and murder of 4-year-old South Carolina girl
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WACH) — A man has been sentenced to life in prison after abducting and killing a 4-year-old girl in 1986 in South Carolina.
Thomas Eric McDowell, 63, was found guilty of first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree murder, in the disappearance and murder of Jessica Gutierrez, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Office.
The judge denied the motion for retrial.
McDowell was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences.
Following the trial, Jessica's mother, Debbie Gutierrez spoke to WACH about how good it felt to finally have justice.
We took a bad man off the streets, one down and we're coming for the rest of em." said GutierrezWhile the family got some closure with the verdict and sentencing, Jessica Gutierrez has never been found, and that is something they need.
Yes, I do have one more hope out there. I hope that he confesses to where her body is only he and God know that." said Gutierrez." She added, "I already have a place prepared for her, where she can be reunited with the rest of her family, I'm ready to bring my baby home.Attorney General Alan Wilson spoke after the trial thanking all of the law enforcement involved in cracking the now 38-year-old case.
Dozen of men and women over a long period of time working to make this cold case hot again and they did that they succeeded this is a testament to the amount of hours and blood sweat and tears that went into this case." said Wilson.Here is what happened on the last day of the trial:
The defense moved for a direct verdict, due to the lack of sufficient evidence, but the judge denied the motion and the jury decided.
McDowell decided to not testify in his own defense.
The defense called no one to the stand and decided to rest.
Emotions ran high in the courtroom leading up to closing arguments.
The state addressed McDowell as the man in the magic hat during their closing arguments.
It’s been 38 years since the man in the magic hat came and took Jessica Gutierrez, the man in the magic hat is in this court room,” said the State. “Tommy McDowell became a suspect when he made himself a suspect.One of the hardest things to accept in this case is that Jessie is dead. Although we can’t bring you a body and say Jessie Gutierrez is dead we know she is dead. That is because the defendant killed her,” said the State.In closing statements, the defense questioned the validity of Debbie Gutierrez.
She wasn’t paying attention and she kept changing her story on the stand she kept talking about how she was OCD and cleaning all the time," said the defense.Also referencing mistakes made in documentation in law enforcement's initial investigation.
Now I’m in the position that someone has said something different on the stand and now I don’t have a witness the investigator who worked the case is dead now.If she were taken as a small child she might not even remember her name is Jessica Gutierrez. It is entirely possible that something has happened to her and she is still alive," said the defense.Grief is not evidence, regret is not evidence in this case and does not prove Tommy McDowell has did what they say he did. If you have any doubt about this case have it now tomorrow will be too late.McDowell was arrested in connection to the case near his Wake Forest, North Carolina home in January 2022, deputies said.
According to prosecutors, he dated Jessica's mother for a short time in 1986.
McDowell has been held at the Lexington County Detention Center since his arrest in 2022.
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