Darlington County man found guilty of stepmother's murder, sentenced to life in prison

DARLINGTON COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – A Pee Dee man found guilty of murdering his stepmother learned his fate in court Thursday.

The Fourth District Attorney's Office said Steven Samuel was found guilty of murdering his stepmother, Vivian Bess, in May 2021. Samuel was also found guilty of kidnapping and attempted first-degree sexual abuse for attacking his stepsister after killing Bess.

A judge subsequently sentenced Samuel to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder charge and to two consecutive terms of 30 years each for the other two charges.

Prosecutors added that Samuel represented himself during his trial, which began Monday.

Samuel was also sentenced under South Carolina's two-strikes law after previously being convicted of armed robbery.

He will serve his sentence in a facility to be determined by the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

All rights reserved.