Greenville, SC Man Wanted For Vehicular Death Arrested In Lincoln County, GA

Columbia, SC—This information was just released by The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) on the arrest of a Greenville man accused of driving his vehicle through an Upstate home, killing a man:

At the request of the SC Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), SLED’s Fugitive Team found John Gilbert Ludwig, Jr. shortly after 7 o’clock this morning in Lincolnton, Georgia, which is approximately 40 miles north of Augusta.

Fugitive Team members, assisted by the SC Information and Intelligence Center (SCIIC) analysts, gathered information on Ludwig’s whereabouts and found his vehicle parked at a relative’s home in Lincoln County, Ga.

Once Ludwig was under arrest, SLED Agents transported Ludwig to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Agents helped SC Troopers drive Ludwig to the Greenville County Detention Center in SC.

Ludwig has been remanded to the custody of the SCDPS. The SCDPS is the lead investigative agency on this case.

The Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office is assisting with this investigation.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia is also helping with the case.

** Wednesday 12:30 pm Update**

In a news conference today Solicitor Bob Ariail says warrants for Ludwig’s arrest were issued last night. He says Ludwig was with his mother and father in Georgia.

Ariail says under the circumstances the murder charge was appropriate. He says the car was going 85 to 96 mph at minimum. He also says the car was out of control before it left the roadway and was on the wrong side of the road.

Ariail says there was a disregard for the safety of others and malice can be inferred from gross recklessness.
Malice is a component that has to be proven for murder.

He says there were issues that had to be resolved to move forward with the charges.

One issue was they needed proof of Ludwig’s admission that he was driving.

Ariail says the car’s “black-box” information will be updated with help from Maserati in New Jersey.

The solicitor says did not give Ludwig a breathalizer at the time of the accident because it would not be legal. He says it is an unfortunate aspect of the law. He says many troopers at the scene talked to Ludwig and had no reason to believe he was under the influence.

Ariail says the law is bad and anyone invloved in a fatal collision should have to take a breathalizer.

He says he knows there has been some concern about Ludwig’s bond for previous charges not being revoked. He says there was no basis for revocation of the bond.

**Wednesday 10:40am Update**

John Ludwig was arrested Wednesday morning by the Lincoln County, GA Sheriff’s Office. Ludwig was arrested at a relative’s home on a murder and fugitive of justice charge. Ludwig is now facing a judge.

He has been transferred to Greenville County authorities.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol says it’s done with its investigation Tuesday into the fatal crash that killed a man inside his home.

13th Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail said he would review fully their investigation and plan to advise Wednesday as to the appropriate charges to be brought. He has scheduled a noon news conference Wednesday at the Greenville County courthouse.

Many have been been very vocal wondering how 36-year-old John Ludwig plowed his Maserati through a Travelers Rest home. 62-year-old William Bardsley was killed inside.

Outspoken community members have been wondering why the investigation is taking so long.

Upstate troopers met at B.M.W. Tuesday with some of the agency’s command staff, including the director of public safety for South Carolina. They immediately left for a meeting with Greenville solicitor Bob Ariail. We staked out the meeting, hoping to get a comment from Ariail after the meeting.  He refused comment, but did issue a statement later.
 
It’s important to note the highest charge South Carolina allows for a vehicle crash is reckless homicide. That carries a 10-year maximum prison sentence according to the highway patrol.

On Monday 40 protestors showed up on the front steps of the Greenville County courthouse to ask 13th Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail to charge John Ludwig for crashing through a Travelers Rest home and killing a man. They’re also asking John Ludwig’s bond be revoked.

A Facebook group was also created called “Indict John Ludwig Now!“. It has more than 1,700 members.

According to police and court records Ludwig has been arrested three times in approximately the last six months. He was out on bond on unrelated burglary and domestic violence charges.

According to the ‘Greenville News’, the event data recorder in Ludwig’s Maserati should tell investigators how fast the engine was going at the time of the crash, if Ludwig used the brakes, and whether the car was going straight or turning. On Monday, the general manager of Maserati of Charleston told the paper they looked at the car to remove the ‘black box’. Technicians in New Jersey will be able to decode the data.

The ‘black box’ is known as an Event Data Recorder, or EDR. Most newer cars have them and a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration rule will require them in all cars starting in 2013. They record the car’s data on a loop and if a crash occurs investigators might have the information from the car’s systems for the few seconds before the crash. However, the data can be lost or damaged in some crashes.

The crash happened on Roe Ford Road on April 25th, and this group feels like the whole process is taking too long since William Bardsley lost his life.
Investigators say they’re making sure everything is correct before they make any kind of move.

In a statement released by the solicitor’s office Monday Ariail said:

“I know there are a number of people who have questions and concerns about the progress of the investigation of the death of William Bardsley.  I would like to give you all the details of the investigation, but in order to protect the integrity and success of the investigation, I cannot.  I can assure you that both my office and the Highway Patrol are responding and working closely together to ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated and successfully prosecuted to the fullest extent possible under the law.  I know the slow pace at which this investigation is moving seems unnecessary because of what appears to be so obvious.  But I would ask you to please be patient as when we bring this case to trial, we cannot rely on obvious appearances but must have hard evidence that is proof beyond a reasonable doubt for conviction.  Unfortunately developing that proof takes time, but is absolutely necessary.“

According to SDI Networks, John Ludwig has stepped down as CEO.