Suvechha Sarkar
The episode titled ‘The Hit-and-Run Homicide of Davis McClendon’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ sheds light on the heartbreaking homicide of 46-year-old Kenneth Davis McClendon. His death initially appeared to be a tragic hit-and-run, but the detectives soon uncovered evidence that turned the case into a murder investigation. Further accounts from his girlfriend also provided crucial details about the events leading up to his murder. The episode also features interviews with one of his acquaintances, his girlfriend, and the authorities who helped serve justice.
Davis McClendon Found Fulfillment in His Career and Role as a Father
Kenneth Davis McClendon was born on February 7, 1977, in Greenwood, South Carolina. Growing up, his parents, James Woodrow and Carie White McClendon, always cheered him on at every milestone in his life. He also developed an unbreakable bond with his sister, Elizabeth, and brother, Jay. Davis was known among his friends and family for his empathetic nature and outgoing personality, which helped him make several friends. He graduated from Cambridge Academy Inc in 1995. While studying there, he tapped into his athletic spirit and actively participated in sports such as football, basketball, and soccer. Davis also played for the youth soccer organization, Lakelands Toros.
Davis eventually completed higher education at the College of Charleston and Presbyterian College. After beginning his career, he worked at Brothers & Harrison and Grand Harbor Golf and Yacht Club. In 2011, Davis stepped into the role of Marketing Counselor at Wesley Commons. In his free time, the sports enthusiast loved playing golf and cheered for his favorite college football team, the Clemson Tigers. Davis got his first chance at love when he met Kristen McClendon. Before long, their connection blossomed and they tied the knot. Over the next few years, they welcomed their children, Ella Blair, Annabelle Davis, and Frederick John “Freddie” McClendon.
Davis McClendon Succumbed to His Injuries From the Collision at the Hospital
Davis and Kristen sadly grew apart over time, resulting in their divorce. Fortunately, he found love again when he crossed paths with Meredith Haynie in December 2022. Their sudden encounter quickly grew into something meaningful, and they soon began dating. On May 6, 2023, Meredith and Davis had gone out on a date at a bar. They eventually went to another bar, but he left in his vehicle before Meredith in the early hours of May 7. He called Meredith to inform her that he had parked his car at the intersection of Avid Road and Sawgrass Place in Greenwood.
However, Meredith grew concerned when he didn’t return the call, prompting her and her friend, Megan McGovern, to check on him at the location. When they arrived, they found his mangled BMW at the side of the road. Megan then discovered Davis lying around 50 feet away from the vehicle, with blood all over his face, prompting her to call 911. When paramedics arrived, they rushed him to the Self Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries around 2:10 am.
Officials at the scene observed that it might have been a hit-and-run case, considering the damage to his car’s fender. They also found his shirt and one shoe at the side of the road and his phone on the car’s front passenger seat. They noticed an oil slick on the road, along with tire marks, footprints, and oil spatters on a nearby streetlight leading away from the scene, turning the case into a homicide. The autopsy revealed that he sustained multiple blunt-force injuries, consistent with a pedestrian-vehicular collision, which led to his death.
An Oil Trail and Several Pieces of Digital Evidence Helped Identify the Killer
Although officials initially considered the possibility of just a hit-and-run since they couldn’t locate a second vehicle, that changed when they observed the oil slick. At the scene, they also questioned Meredith, who informed them that at the time, she had been separated from her husband, William Gray “Bud” Ackerman Jr., since the spring of 2022. She stated that only a few weeks were left before their divorce was expected to be finalized. In her statements, she told the investigators that after leaving the bar, Davis had told her he was going to meet Bud around 12 am on May 7, 2023, according to reports. Meredith went on to say that Bud had asked her and Davis to stop dating until their divorce was finalized.
In the meantime, as authorities followed the oil slick trail along the road leading away from the crash scene, they reached the home of Bud’s parents, where he was living at the time. When officials checked his white Ford F-250 pickup truck, they noticed leaking oil from the undercarriage. Reports state that they also noticed other pieces of evidence, including a crack in the pickup truck’s grille, suggesting the vehicle had collided with something. Bud was present at the house and reportedly requested an attorney before speaking to the investigators. Around 6:30 am on May 7, he was arrested and charged with Davis’ murder.
When digital forensic experts examined the cellphone records of Bud and Meredith, they discovered that he had called and texted her multiple times in the hours leading up to the tragedy. In one of the texts, he wrote, “Why do you hate me? I just don’t understand?” According to court records, CCTV footage captured him circling in front of the bar Meredith and Davis visited that night, after the couple had already left the bar. Furthermore, experts discovered from his car’s infotainment system that, prior to the collision, it had passed through the streets near Davis’ home and near Meredith’s house. It also revealed that Bud’s pickup truck was at the intersection around the time the 46-year-old was hit by a vehicle.
William “Bud” Ackerman Jr. is Incarcerated at a South Carolina Prison Today
The first jury trial of William “Bud” Ackerman Jr. commenced in July 2024, but it ended in a mistrial. His second jury trial began on September 24, 2024, during which the prosecution argued that the defendant killed Davis intentionally and drove the car into the 46-year-old after both of them arranged to meet. They also presented several pieces of evidence before the court, including the data from Bud’s vehicle, CCTV footage, and cellphone records. On the other hand, the defense claimed that although the defendant was responsible for hitting Davis, the collision was an accident. They further claimed that Davis was standing in the middle of the road, and Bud didn’t see him until the last moment.
On October 5, 2024, the jury convicted Bud of the murder of Davis. That same day, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Moreover, he received credit for more than 500 days he had already served since his arrest. Following that, he appealed his conviction and sentence. However, it is essential to note that the available public and court records do not indicate any further proceedings regarding the appeal. As of writing, Bud is serving his sentence at the Tyger River Correctional Institute in Enoree, South Carolina. His projected release date is set on April 24, 2068.
