South Carolina investigators charge William "Bud" Ackerman in fatal hit-and-run of Davis McClendon
Authorities in Greenwood County arrested William "Bud" Ackerman and charged him with murder after a hit-and-run that killed Davis McClendon in May 2023.
On May 7, 2023, first responders discovered the body of 46-year-old Davis McClendon near a mangled BMW on a dead-end street in Greenwood, South Carolina. Initial evidence suggested a hit-and-run, and investigators noted unusual damage to the vehicle and an oil slick on the road. Interviews with two women at the scene revealed a tumultuous relationship between McClendon, his girlfriend Meredith Haynie, and her estranged husband William "Bud" Ackerman.
Tracing the oil trail led officers to Ackerman’s parents’ residence, where his white Ford F-250 pickup was observed leaking oil and showing signs of impact. Digital forensics from the truck, along with extensive phone and text records, helped build a case that led to Ackerman’s arrest on June 30, 2023, and his subsequent charging with murder in August 2026.
Why it matters
The case highlights how forensic evidence and digital data can solve complex hit-and-run murders.
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