Former U.S. Army Veteran Sentenced to 60 Years for Double Murder in South Carolina
Jun 07, 11:00 PM
Gene Alexzander "Alex" Scott, a 26-year-old former U.S. Army veteran from South Carolina, was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Thursday for the murders of his grandfather and great-grandmother. Prosecutors argued that the killings were financially motivated.
Scott was convicted of shooting Billy Ruth Rogers and Gene Rogers in their mobile home on Doe Street in Richburg, South Carolina, on Father’s Day 2020. The jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict earlier this week, leading to Scott's sentencing.
During the sentencing, Scott maintained his innocence, claiming he found his relatives already dead and asserting that he had an alibi. He stated he was with a friend in Columbia, South Carolina, at the time of the murders.
"I did not kill my grandparents and I never would. One day, we will all die, and I hope there's a God so you can all ask me if I did it. And I hope you choke on that answer when he tells you I did not," Scott said. "Don’t give me leniency because it’s not going to be given away. Throw me in prison and lock away the key if that makes you all happy.”
Family members of the victims attended the hearing, wearing shirts and pins in memory of Gene and Billy Ruth Rogers.
The two-week trial included testimony from law enforcement and forensic experts. Jurors saw police body camera footage showing Scott's reaction upon discovering the bodies. Prosecutors argued that the footage depicted Scott as performing for the police, rather than genuinely reacting to the scene.
“There’s blood all over, it’s like somebody executed them,” Scott said to police in 2020. “I can’t get it out of my head, I can’t get it out of my head.” One deputy testified that Scott's behavior seemed staged, describing it as though he "was putting on a show."
Prosecutors presented evidence that Scott's motive was financial gain. They claimed he hoped to collect on his grandfather’s life insurance policy and draw from his retirement account. Scott had received $80,000 from his grandfather earlier in the year but was denied additional funds needed to start a security business.
The trial included testimony from a pathologist who detailed the victims' injuries. Both were shot in the back of the head, with Billy Ruth Rogers also sustaining a graze wound on her hand. Investigators challenged Scott’s account of discovering the bodies, pointing out inconsistencies with the layout of the mobile home.
After a year-long investigation, Scott was arrested in Germany, where he was serving in the U.S. Army. He had previously served as an ammunition technician in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Scott’s attorney announced plans to appeal the verdict, seeking a new trial.
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Scott was convicted of shooting Billy Ruth Rogers and Gene Rogers in their mobile home on Doe Street in Richburg, South Carolina, on Father’s Day 2020. The jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict earlier this week, leading to Scott's sentencing.
During the sentencing, Scott maintained his innocence, claiming he found his relatives already dead and asserting that he had an alibi. He stated he was with a friend in Columbia, South Carolina, at the time of the murders.
"I did not kill my grandparents and I never would. One day, we will all die, and I hope there's a God so you can all ask me if I did it. And I hope you choke on that answer when he tells you I did not," Scott said. "Don’t give me leniency because it’s not going to be given away. Throw me in prison and lock away the key if that makes you all happy.”
Family members of the victims attended the hearing, wearing shirts and pins in memory of Gene and Billy Ruth Rogers.
The two-week trial included testimony from law enforcement and forensic experts. Jurors saw police body camera footage showing Scott's reaction upon discovering the bodies. Prosecutors argued that the footage depicted Scott as performing for the police, rather than genuinely reacting to the scene.
“There’s blood all over, it’s like somebody executed them,” Scott said to police in 2020. “I can’t get it out of my head, I can’t get it out of my head.” One deputy testified that Scott's behavior seemed staged, describing it as though he "was putting on a show."
Prosecutors presented evidence that Scott's motive was financial gain. They claimed he hoped to collect on his grandfather’s life insurance policy and draw from his retirement account. Scott had received $80,000 from his grandfather earlier in the year but was denied additional funds needed to start a security business.
The trial included testimony from a pathologist who detailed the victims' injuries. Both were shot in the back of the head, with Billy Ruth Rogers also sustaining a graze wound on her hand. Investigators challenged Scott’s account of discovering the bodies, pointing out inconsistencies with the layout of the mobile home.
After a year-long investigation, Scott was arrested in Germany, where he was serving in the U.S. Army. He had previously served as an ammunition technician in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Scott’s attorney announced plans to appeal the verdict, seeking a new trial.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com