August 12. 2006 7:10PM Family of slain student supports death penalty for suspect The Associated Press The family of a slain Clemson University student told prosecutors they would support a decision to seek the death penalty against her accused killer. The parents of Tiffany Marie Souers said they made their decision after learning that, if convicted and sentenced to life in prison, Jerry Buck Inman would not be in lockdown in prison. That "isn't an acceptable punishment for me," Souers' mother, Bren Souers, told (Anderson) Independent-Mail in an interview. "We 100 percent back the solicitor if his choice is to seek the death penalty, and we'll do what we need to do to help him out, be a part of the trial or whatever." Tiffany Souers, 20, was a junior civil engineering student at Clemson University when she was found May 26 strangled in her off-campus apartment. Inman, a convicted sex offender from Tennessee, is charged with her rape and murder. Bren Souers had previously said was uncertain about whether she wanted prosecutors to seek the death penalty in the case because of the lengthy appeals process. "That's not something I want to relive every three or four years," she said earlier this week. --- Information from: Anderson Independent-Mail, http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060812/APN/608120766

Judge issues gag order in Inman trial By Heidi Cenac Anderson Independent-Mail August 18, 2006 State Circuit Court Judge John Few has approved a gag order on attorneys and law enforcement officials in the murder case regarding the May 26 death of Clemson University student Tiffany Souers. The order, filed on Thursday in the 13th Circuit Court in Greenville, prevents comments by anyone involved in the case — from attorneys to law enforcement agencies. They are also prevented from releasing any information. Jerry Buck Inman, a convicted sex offender from Tennessee, has been charged with killing Ms. Souers, who was from a St. Louis suburb. According to the order, public court documents cannot contain discussion or argument concerning the facts or investigation of the case, and the court must approve any news releases. "This case has received and continues to receive considerable publicity," the order states. "Both the solicitor and counsel for the defendant have expressed concern over the effect of continued pretrial publicity on the right of the State and of the Defendant to get a fair trial." The order was no surprise to legal experts. For 40 years, courts have used gag orders to protect potential jury pools and prevent attorneys from using the press to sway jurors, said David Mann, a political science professor at the College of Charleston whose research involves judicial politics and criminal justice. "I would argue that it helps justice because you’re much more likely to ensure that someone is making a decision based on what happens in the courtroom — not what they read in the media," Mr. Mann said. Gag orders are one way to prevent relocation of high-profile trials, by limiting information available to the public before the trial. Changing locations can triple a trial’s cost, Mr. Mann said. "In a case like this that’s getting national media attention, it’s a good thing," Typically the prosecutor requests the gag order, said 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams. But no one in this case could comment on who requested the order. Heidi Cenac can be reached at (800) 859-6397, Ext. 324, or by e-mail at href="mailto:cenache@IndependentMail.com">cenache@IndependentMail.com.. http://www.independentmail.com/and/news/article/0,1886,AND_8203_4928134,00.html

Death penalty sought against Tennessee sex offender accused in Clemson crimes South Carolina prosecutors said today they will seek the death penalty for a Tennessee man charged in the death of a Clemson University student who was strangled with a bikini top.Advertisement Jerry "Buck" Inman, a convicted sex offender, was arrested in Dandridge, Tennessee, in June and charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in the death of 20-year-old Tiffany Marie Souers. Souers, of Ladue, Missouri, was found dead in her off-campus apartment May 26th. Inman was arrested about two weeks later. Inman also faces charges in the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman in Rainsville, Alabama, and the rape of a 28-year-old woman at her home in Sevierville, Tennessee. Authorities have said those crimes occurred in the days leading up to Souers' death. Inman is currently being housed by the South Carolina Corrections Department. No trial date in the South Carolina case has been scheduled. copyright AP Katie Allison Granju , Producer Last updated: 8/22/2006 3:39:02 PM http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=37153&provider=rss

Posted on Mon, Jan. 08, 2007 Prosecutors want DNA from suspect in Clemson student's slaying MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. - Prosecutors want to collect a DNA sample from a convicted sex offender charged in the slaying of a 20-year-old Clemson University student who was strangled with a bikini top. Prosecutors previously said they used the genetic material to link Jerry Buck Inman to the slaying, and asked for the additional sample to eliminate "any chain of custody issues." Circuit Judge John C. Few scheduled a hearing Monday afternoon at the Pickens County courthouse on the DNA request and other issues. Inman, 36, is facing kidnapping, rape and murder charges in the death of Tiffany Marie Souers, an engineering student from Ladue, Mo., who was found inside her off-campus apartment May 26. Police said a bikini top used to choke her was still around her neck. Investigators previously used a DNA database to link Inman to evidence collected at the scene, according to the motion, filed Dec. 21. Now, prosecutors say they need a sample of Inman's DNA "so as to eliminate any chain of custody issues as to the CODIS (database) hit obtained during the investigation," according to the motion. Inman also faces charges in the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman in Rainsville, Ala., and in the rape of a 28-year-old woman at her home in Sevierville, Tenn. Authorities have said those crimes occurred in the days leading up to Souers' death. South Carolina prosecutor Bob Ariail has said he plans to seek the death penalty against Inman. Nine months before his arrest in June, Inman spent about 18 years in prison in North Carolina and Florida for rapes committed in those states as a teenager. He is a registered sex offender in both states. No trial date has been scheduled for Inman, who was being housed at the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, a state prison about 175 miles away from Pickens. Few has signed a wide-ranging gag order in the case, not only keeping prosecutors and lawyers from talking to reporters, but also law enforcement officers, including those in Tennessee where Inman was arrested, as well as the relatives of both the defendant and the victim. http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/16411414.htm

Posted on Tue, Jan. 09, 2007 DNA sample taken from suspect in rape, killing Prosecutors want clear custody chain in death of Clemson student MEG KINNARD Associated Press PICKENS, S.C. - A judge has granted an order allowing investigators to collect a DNA sample from a convicted sex offender charged in the slaying of a 20-year-old Clemson University student who was strangled with a bikini top. Prosecutors previously said they used genetic material to link Jerry Buck Inman to the slaying, and asked for the additional sample to eliminate "any chain of custody issues." During a brief hearing Monday at the Pickens County Courthouse, Judge John Few signed the order, which specified that Inman's DNA would be taken at the courthouse before his return to state prison. Inman, 36, is facing kidnapping, rape and murder charges in the death of Tiffany Marie Souers, an engineering student from Ladue, Mo., who was found inside her off-campus apartment May 26. Police said a bikini top used to choke her was still around her neck. Investigators previously used a DNA database to link Inman to unspecified evidence collected at the scene. Now, prosecutors say they need a sample of Inman's DNA "so as to eliminate any chain of custody issues as to the CODIS (database) hit obtained during the investigation," according to the motion. Inman also faces charges in the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman in Alabama and in the rape of a 28-year-old woman in Tennessee. Authorities have said those crimes occurred days before Souers' death. http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/16415209.htm

Motions to be heard in Clemson murder case THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 09/13/2007 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Pretrial motions are scheduled to be argued Friday in the case of a convicted sex offender charged in the slaying of a 20-year-old Clemson University student who was strangled with a bikini top. Jerry Buck Inman, 36, faces kidnapping, rape and murder charges in the death of Tiffany Marie Souers. Souers, an engineering student from Ladue, was found inside her off-campus apartment May 26, 2006. Police said a bikini top used to choke her was still around her neck. Inman's attorney, Symmes Culbertson, said Wednesday that pretrial motions would be considered but would not provide details. A spokeswoman for prosecutor Bob Ariail also confirmed motions would be heard Friday. Ariail has said he intends to seek the death penalty for Inman. A judge has issued a wide-ranging gag order in the case, not only keeping prosecutors and lawyers from talking to reporters, but also law enforcement officers, including those in Tennessee, where Inman was arrested, as well as the relatives of Souers and Inman. No trial date has been scheduled for Inman, who also is accused of attempting to rape a 24-year-old woman in Rainsville, Ala., and of raping a 28-year-old woman at her home in Sevierville, Tenn. Authorities have said those crimes occurred in the days leading up to the killing of Souers. Inman spent about 18 years in prison in North Carolina and Florida for rapes he committed as a teenager. He is a registered sex offender in both states. He was free for about nine months before his June 2006 arrest. In April, Judge Edward Miller allowed Culbertson, who has represented Inman since his arrest, to continue working on his case, along with Greenville lawyer James Bannister and Pickens County public defender John W. DeJong. Under South Carolina law, defendants facing the death penalty are allowed to have at least two attorneys http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/6551F2AA7E979A0786257355000FFFDA?OpenDocument

Friday, May 9, 2008 Change of venue denied in Clemson student strangling case By The Associated PressThursday, May 08, 2008 PICKENS, S.C. - A judge has denied a request that jurors be chosen from another area in the trial of a convicted sex offender charged with killing a 20-year-old Clemson University student. The Greenville News reported that Judge Edward Miller denied the motion by Jerry Buck Inman’s attorneys during a hearing in Pickens County on Thursday. Inman is charged with kidnapping, rape and murder in the death of Tiffany Marie Souers. Souers was found in her off-campus apartment in May 2006. Police said a bikini top used to choke her was still around her neck. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. In September, a judge rejected Inman’s request to plead guilty but still have his sentence decided by a jury. http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2008/05/08//news/doc482374296496d425968401.txt

Posted on Mon, Aug. 18, 2008 Man charged in SC student's death has court date By MEG KINNARD - Associated Press Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. --A convicted sex offender charged in the 2006 death of a Clemson University student who authorities say was strangled with her bikini top was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. The hearing comes just a few weeks before Jerry Buck Inman is scheduled to go to trial. Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty against Inman, 37, who is charged in the kidnapping, rape and murder of Tiffany Marie Souers. Inman tried to plead guilty last year with the caveat that he be sentenced by a jury, but a judge ruled that wasn't allowed under state law. Judge Edward Miller said there was no precedent in the state courts for a jury sentence in guilty pleas. Those sentences are typically handed down by judges in South Carolina. A wide-ranging gag order has been issued in the case, covering both defense attorneys and prosecutors as well as law officers and relatives of Inman and Souers. But one of Inman's defense attorneys said during a court hearing last year that Inman has "a strong desire to acknowledge his guilt." "He wants to alleviate what he sees will be the impact of the media attention this case has already had," attorney Jim Bannister said in September. Souers, a 20-year-old engineering student from Ladue, Mo., had been enrolled in summer classes when she was killed in May 2006. Authorities have said a bikini top used to strangle her was still wrapped around her neck when she was found in her off-campus apartment about three miles from Clemson's campus. Prosecutors said she was bound by her wrists and neck. The nationwide manhunt for Inman began after investigators matched his DNA to samples taken from Souers' apartment. He was arrested about 10 days later near his mother's home in Dandridge, Tenn., where authorities said Inman had told them he would drive around looking for women he found attractive and did not even realize he had ended up in South Carolina. Inman also faces charges in the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman in Rainsville, Ala., and in the rape of a 28-year-old woman in Sevierville, Tenn. Authorities have said those crimes occurred in the days leading up to Souers' death, and the victims identified Inman from his tattoos. Inman, who spent 18 years in prison for rapes he committed as a teenager in North Carolina and Florida and is a registered sex offender in both states, had been free for about nine months before his arrest in Souers' death. Inman's attorneys have asked the judge not to allow prosecutors to mention their client's criminal record during his trial. Miller has not ruled on that request. http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/493788.html?RSS=breaking

Sex offender pleads guilty to bikini murder PICKENS, South Carolina (AP) -- A convicted sex offender admitted Tuesday that he strangled a 20-year-old South Carolina college student two years ago, leaving her body in her off-campus apartment with her bikini top still wrapped around her neck. Jerry Buck Inman, 37, pleaded guilty to robbing, kidnapping, raping and murdering Tiffany Marie Souers of Ladue, Missouri. Inman could face the death penalty when he is sentenced September 8, and a defense psychiatrist testified that was what he wants. "He wishes to die for what he's done," Dr. Donna Schwartz-Watts said. "He has consistently stated that." The Clemson University engineering student's body was discovered May, 26, 2006. Authorities said Inman's DNA matched samples taken from Souers' apartment, and he was arrested near his mother's home in Dandridge, Tennessee, about two weeks after Souers' body was found. Inman, a tattooed man who still appears menacing in court despite handcuffs and shackles, stared straight ahead during much of the court hearing, answering yes or no to some basic questions. He spent about 18 years in prison in North Carolina and Florida for rapes committed in those states as a teenager. He was free for about nine months before his June 2006 arrest. He also faces charges in the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman in Rainsville, Alabama, and in the rape of a 28-year-old woman in Sevierville, Tennessee. Authorities have said those crimes occurred in the days leading up to Souers' death. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/19/bikini.murder.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Sex offender pleads guilty to bikini murder PICKENS, South Carolina (AP) -- A convicted sex offender admitted Tuesday that he strangled a 20-year-old South Carolina college student two years ago, leaving her body in her off-campus apartment with her bikini top still wrapped around her neck. Jerry Buck Inman, 37, pleaded guilty to robbing, kidnapping, raping and murdering Tiffany Marie Souers of Ladue, Missouri. Inman could face the death penalty when he is sentenced September 8, and a defense psychiatrist testified that was what he wants. "He wishes to die for what he's done," Dr. Donna Schwartz-Watts said. "He has consistently stated that." The Clemson University engineering student's body was discovered May, 26, 2006. Authorities said Inman's DNA matched samples taken from Souers' apartment, and he was arrested near his mother's home in Dandridge, Tennessee, about two weeks after Souers' body was found. Inman, a tattooed man who still appears menacing in court despite handcuffs and shackles, stared straight ahead during much of the court hearing, answering yes or no to some basic questions. He spent about 18 years in prison in North Carolina and Florida for rapes committed in those states as a teenager. He was free for about nine months before his June 2006 arrest. He also faces charges in the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman in Rainsville, Alabama, and in the rape of a 28-year-old woman in Sevierville, Tennessee. Authorities have said those crimes occurred in the days leading up to Souers' death. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/19/bikini.murder.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Inman To Be Sentenced Monday Last Edited: Monday, 08 Sep 2008, 7:12 AM CDT Created: Monday, 08 Sep 2008, 7:12 AM CDT (KTVI - myFOXstl.com) -- A convicted sex offender will be sentenced Monday for raping and killing a Clemson University student. Jerry Buck Inman pleaded guilty to killing 20-year old Tiffany Souers inside her Greenville, South Carolina apartment in May, 2006. Inman could get the death penalty. http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7381281&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Monday, Apr. 20, 2009 Sentencing decision due in student's murder After seven-month delay, Inman could learn fate this week By RICK BRUNDRETT - rbrundrett@thestate.com A Tennessee drifter and convicted sex offender could learn this week whether he will face the death penalty for the 2006 rape and strangulation of a Clemson University coed. The sentencing phase of Jerry Buck Inman’s death penalty trial is set to resume today in a Pickens County courtroom after a seven-month delay. Inman, 38 — recognizable by his shaved head and a tattoo of a bat on his neck — pleaded guilty in August to raping and strangling 20-year-old Clemson student Tiffany Marie Souers on May 26, 2006, in her off-campus apartment in Central. The crime shocked the Clemson community and the state and made national news. In September, Circuit Judge Ned Miller put the sentencing phase of the trial on hold after Inman’s attorneys accused longtime 13th Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail of trying to intimidate a defense expert by suggesting she could face criminal penalties if she testified. Miller denied a defense request to declare a mistrial after four days of testimony. But he postponed the sentencing phase to allow Inman’s lawyers time to find a similar expert to review the case. Contacted recently, Symmes Culbertson, of Greenville, one of Inman’s lawyers, and Ariail spokeswoman Marcia Barker declined comment, citing a standing gag order by Miller. The defense is expected to resume its case today. It is not known whether Inman will take the stand in his own defense. Miller, a former Greenville County public defender, can issue one of two possible sentences: life in prison or death. He can rule from the bench immediately after testimony is completed or issue his decision later. Inman had pushed for a jury to decide his sentence, but Miller ruled state law prohibited it in cases in which the defendant pleaded guilty. Souers, a rising junior from a wealthy St. Louis-area family, was described by friends as a straight-A civil engineering major who found time for family, friends and community charity work. Her parents, Jim and Bren Souers, attended the court proceedings in September. Efforts to reach them last week were unsuccessful. Inman spent about 18 years — nearly half his life — in Florida and North Carolina prisons for raping a woman and a male inmate. He also is charged in the rape of a Tennessee woman and the attempted rape of an Alabama woman in their homes in the days before the rape-strangulation of Souers. A defense expert testified last year Inman was sexually abused by an alcoholic father who later abandoned him and that his mother, a paranoid schizophrenic with violent mood swings, didn’t protect him. By age 10, he was doing drugs; in his teens, he was running away from home and living on the streets, the expert said. He attempted suicide seven times — six while in prison, according to testimony. In written police statements, Inman said he was having a hard time adjusting to life outside prison and decided to drive through the Southeast to “get away.” The unemployed construction worker said he ran out of money after arriving in South Carolina and was looking for a place to rob. He eventually made his way to The Reserve in Central, an off-campus apartment complex where Souers lived. He said he first saw Souers during the day on the patio of her first-floor apartment, drove around awhile, and came back to her apartment early the next morning. He entered her apartment through an unlocked door a couple of hours after a friend had dropped her off after an evening out at a local restaurant. Inman said he woke the sleeping Souers, who was alone in the four-bedroom apartment because it was summer break, and tied her hands after she fought with him. Inman then raped Souers and strangled her with a bikini top, investigators said. He told police he fled with her bedsheet, car keys and two of her credit cards, though authorities said he was unable to use the cards at local ATMs. DNA from Souers’ body and a carpet sample from her bedroom matched Inman’s DNA, authorities said. He was arrested June 6, 2006, near the home of his mother and stepfather in Dandridge, Tenn. Reach Brundrett at (803) 771-8484. http://www.thestate.com/local/story/756101.html