Dale, SC: Sheriff Tanner gives more details in Dale double murder

Sheriff Tanner gives more details in Dale double murder



By Jaime Dailey bio | email

DALE, SC (WTOC) - Earnest Daise remains in jail without bond. Beaufort County investigators say he shot and killed his girlfriend and her four-year-old son. He also shot and injured their toddler.

Sheriff P.J. Tanner says while they have made an arrest in this case, it's still an on-going investigation and couldn't reveal the motive in this case. But, he did confirm that the couple had a history of criminal domestic violence.

More than a week ago, friends and family members lined Player Road waiting for answers after a someone murdered Jeanine Mullen and her four-year-old son Waltfredo Davis-Mullen the same day he was celebrating his 4th birthday.

Investigators say Earnest Daise is the killer. They say he also shot their two-year-old son Jeremiah Daise. Jeremiah is now at Memorial University of South Carolina in stable condition.

"It's a horrible, horrible case," said sheriff Tanner. "Its a very heartless individual who would do what defendant Daise did, it's tough on everyone."

Sheriff P.J. Tanner said while the victim's weren't discovered until 7pm November 15, they believe the murders could have happened much earlier in the day. Tanner says they suspected Daise early on and searched his home and found more than just evidence in the murder case.

"Crack cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphenallia were found in the residence belonging to the defendant Daise and he was charged on these drug charges that night," said Tanner.

Now he's facing murder charges. While Tanner couldn't comment on the motive in this case, he says Daise was on parole at the time of the murders and has a long criminal history, including two pending counts of criminal domestic violence. Jeanine Mullen was the victim in both cases.

"South Carolina has suffered greatly because of the amount of Criminal Domestic Violence cases we have in this state," said Tanner. "We have led those stats for years. If motive as an example of domestic related to this case, it's just a terrible example of just how bad domestic violence cases were in South Carolina. Domestic violence cases do escelate."

Tanner says unfortunately, they're not notified in many cases of Criminal Domestic Violence until it has escalated.

Daise has a lengthy criminal history, dating back to 1998. He's had a number of drug charges over the years including posession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He's also been charged with assult and battery with intent to kill in to separate incidents, not including this one.

His next bond hearing on the murder charges is scheduled for next month.