Sharde D. Bethea-Swinger, 34 and a mother of three, was found dead in her Clinton, South Carolina, home on May 26, 2021. Authorities determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound, and the case was investigated as a homicide. Friends and family remembered her for a vibrant personality and dedication to her children; her sudden death left a deep impact on those close to her.

Within a day of the discovery, police arrested 43-year-old Richard Dana Gist of Laurens and charged him in connection with the shooting. Reports said the alleged motive was a domestic dispute between Gist and Bethea-Swinger. Gist was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and was denied bond.