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A pipeline for crime

Bennettsville!

The name of the small town in South Carolina jumps out at me.

Five suspects in a 2004 High Point murder were arrested there Monday.

I don't know how many violent crimes have been committed over the years in High Point by people from Bennettsville, S.C. It's a lot.

Police have noticed the trend, Chief Jim Fealy told me this morning. He referred to Bennettsville as "our sister city in crime."

The connection seems to be "familial to a certain degree," Fealy added. But he admitted police don't fully understand the link.

Does anyone have an idea?

I plan to look into this in more depth.

Comments (6)

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Mad Dog said:

Doug,

Maybe the victims met the suspects on the way to or from Myrtle Beach.

Does anyone have an idea?* Doug

D.R.U.G.S Gangs...it is everywhere Doug. Locations are simply branch offices with transportion centers along with private enforcement collection tactics. The Rappers of today are simply following what Big Al did in the 20's.

jaycee said:

A hundred or so years ago the furniture plants in HP recruited heavily in the Bennettsville, SC, area. Many of the descendants still live in HP. Many of them have recruited friends from Bennettsville to work in HP. It was a business/labor relationship for years, still is.
Similar to the American Express/New York connection. When the AE center in New York shut down, the workers had the choice of a severance package or relocation to the new Greensboro center. Many chose to come here, there are family and friendship ties to NY, etc.

Doug said:

I think you're right, jaycee. Bennettsville police chief Larry McNeil tells me he knows "numerous families" that have migrated to High Point. He noted that Fantasia Barrino's family came from Marlboro, eight miles from Bennettsville.

Skeet Club Savage said:

Doug, I think Bennettsville was a stop on Dot's Underground Railroad for the migrant Georgia peanut farmers on who's behalf she invented the "choice plan".

Doug said:

jaycee,

I deleted your most recent comment, which made criminal allegations about a particular family.

I appreciate your comments but just need to be careful about treading into libelous commentary in this instance.

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