On the evening of January 17, 2015, in Yemassee, South Carolina, 44-year-old Melissa Lynn Rauch was shot in the head and found dead on the bedroom floor next to her wheelchair. Her boyfriend returned from a short errand about 30 minutes after leaving to find the front door ajar and discovered her.

Investigators identified 27-year-old Donald Rogers Simmons Jr., also of Yemassee, as a suspect. He was arrested and charged with Rauch’s murder, released on bond after posting a judge-set amount, then removed his ankle monitor and fled. Simmons was later located and taken back into custody in May 2017. In May 2019 he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 27 years in prison; the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Career Criminal Unit handled the prosecution.

If anyone knew Melissa or has information about the events of that night, please come forward.