Mitchell Sims and
Ruby Carolyn Padgett, both from West Columbia,
South Carolina, declared war on Sims’ former employer, Domino’s Pizza, where
Sims had been a manager, in December 1985. Their violence spanned the entire
continental United States – from South Carolina to California.
~ Dec. 3, 1985: Gary Melke & Christopher Zerr Murders ~
The lovers’ first homicidal exploit
occurred at the Domino’s in Hanahan, South Carolina, where in May
1985 Mitchell Sims had quit his job as manager and stormed out. He bought
a gun and then threatened to blow up the pizzeria in order to avenge what he
felt was unfair treatment by his boss and co-workers. [LA Times, May 7, 1987]
On December 3 the couple visited the Domino’s where Sims had
worked and “tied up his
coworker, Chris Zerr, and shot him in the head. Sims also tied up manager Gary
Melke and shot him four times in the head and neck. Melke managed to free his
hands and, bleeding profusely from his wounds, walked three blocks to the local
police station. After spitting broken teeth and bone fragments out of his
mouth, Melke told paramedic, George Pledger, that his coworker Mitch Sims shot
him. When Pledger assured Melke they would get him to the hospital and save his
life, Melke said, “I feel like I’m going to die.” Melke did die following
surgery. Zerr was found dead in a pool of blood on the floor of the Domino’s
next to the emptied safe.” [Michele Hanisee, “Death Penalty Exhausted Appeals –
Part 1”]
~ Dec. 9, 1985 : John
Steven Harrigan (21), murdered; Kory
Spiroff and Edmund Sicam assaulted ~
At trial Deputy
Dist. Atty. Terry A. Green told the jury that Mitchell Sims and companion Ruby
Carolyn Padgett “carefully and meticulously planned” the Dec. 9, 1985,
motel-room slaying of John Steven Harrigan, 21, a Domino’s Pizza deliveryman.
John Harrigan,
21, was delivering a Domino's pizza to a Glendale motel room shortly before
midnight, when Padgett and Sims robbed and choked him then drowned him in a
bathtub. The next morning the body was found by police -- gagged body submerged
in the overflowing motel bathtub. A washcloth had been stuffed in his mouth and
a pillow case was tied over his head.
The couple then drove to the Domino’s the delivery man had come from.
The robbed the safe and Sims “hanged Spiroff and Sicam in the cooler in a
manner that promised a slow, agonizing, and painful death.” They were,
however, found alive, but were tied to metal hooks in a darkened food
freezer in such a manner that they had to stand on their toes to avoid
strangulation.
~ Dec. 25, 1985 – arrested, Las Vegas, Nv. ~
Sims and Ms. Padgett were arrested early Christmas Day at a
small North Las Vegas motel, where they had been registered since Dec. 11 under
assumed names. The arrest followed a tip from an unidentified person who
recognized them from news photos, police said.
At the extradition hearing, both Sims and Ms. Padgett smiled
frequently, with Sims mouthing the words ″Hi, mom″ in the direction of a
television camera as he entered the courtroom. At the end of the hearing, Sims
leaned over and told Ms. Padgett: ″See you, babe. I love you.″
Throughout her
seven-week trial, Padgett insisted that she was just an unwilling observer of
the crimes committed by Sims. On a February 26, 1987 – Pasadena, Ca., jury found Ruby Padgett, 21,
guilty of one count of first-degree murder and three counts of armed robbery
but acquitted her of two counts of attempted murder. Pasadena, California.
Sims was
sentenced to death.
Padgett remains in
prison. A petiton in support of her release has been posted online.
***
Ruby Carolyn Padgett & Mitchell Sims. West Columbia, South Carolina.
CHRONOLOGY
May 1985 – Sims
quits job as manager at Domino’s Pizza, Hanahan (suburb of Charleston), South Carolina.
Dec. 3, 1985 – 2 murders; Gary
Melke (24), Christopher Zerr (24), Hanahan
(suburb of Charleston), South Carolina.
Dec. 9, 1985 – John Steven Harrigan (21), murdered; Domino’s
Pizza, Glendale, Ca. Kory Spiroff and
Edmund Sicam, were found alive, but were tied to metal hooks in a darkened food
freezer in such a manner that they had to stand on their toes to avoid
strangulation, Green said. $2,000 stolen from Domino’s.
Dec. 25, 1985 – arrested, Las Vegas, Nv.
Feb. 26, 1987 – Ruby Padgett, 21,
guilty of one count of first-degree murder and three counts of armed robbery
but acquitted her of two counts of attempted murder. Pasadena, California.
Jun. 26, 1987 – Ruby
Padgett sentenced to life without parole. Pasadena, California.
Sep. 11, 1987 – Mitchell Carlton Sims sentenced to death.
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For similar cases, see: Female Serial Killer Bandits
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[2709-1/9/20; 4118-2/28/20; 8722-1/4/21; 10,685-10/4/21; 13,148-9/26/22]
***
For similar cases, see: Female Serial Killer Bandits
[2709-1/9/20; 4118-2/28/20; 8722-1/4/21; 10,685-10/4/21; 13,148-9/26/22]
***
She was sentenced to life and that is what she needs to serve. 3 people were brutely murdered, and another 2 were terrorized at the hands of Ms. Padgett and her lover!
ReplyDeleteDitto!
ReplyDeleteShe's done her time now let her go
ReplyDeleteNo she hasn't. She got life WITHOUT parole. In fact she should get death just like her boy friend
DeleteApparently she has not done her time which is why she is still incarcerated.
ReplyDeleteShe needs to stay there for life. Those victims didn't have a chance at life why should this trash.
ReplyDeleteSo what about the childhood sexual and physical abuse they both suffered? The psychologist who interviewed Sims said his childhood history was the worst he’d heard in his entire career, we just ignore that and pretend there’s no possibility of fixing the damage done to them by people who were never held to account. They’ve been inside nearly 34 years, I was a completely different person by 30 than I was at 20 and I’m sure the same could be for them. People in the west have a tendency to ignore damage western society has done to people and places and just go full on demonising the effects of said damage and wash our hands as if that’s it, no possible chance of rehabilitation. No wonder US criminals go so far to escape justice, it’s cause they know they might as well put their life on the line for something trivial as their life is on the line anyway due to the cascade effect a criminal charge causes. We want people to not break the law but give them no opportunity of a life if they do stop committing crime.
DeleteSo what about the childhood sexual and physical abuse they both suffered? The psychologist who interviewed Sims said his childhood history was the worst he’d heard in his entire career, we just ignore that and pretend there’s no possibility of fixing the damage done to them by people who were never held to account. They’ve been inside nearly 34 years, I was a completely different person by 30 than I was at 20 and I’m sure the same could be for them. People in the west have a tendency to ignore damage western society has done to people and places and just go full on demonising the effects of said damage and wash our hands as if that’s it, no possible chance of rehabilitation. No wonder US criminals go so far to escape justice, it’s cause they know they might as well put their life on the line for something trivial as their life is on the line anyway due to the cascade effect a criminal charge causes. We want people to not break the law but give them no opportunity of a life if they do stop committing crime.
DeleteI remember both of them. I was running a pizza place and Sims barged into my office demanding an application. Ruby was picketing the food lion next door for a couple of weeks. This was just before they went on their killing spree.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big difference between choosing to become a good person and no longer having the option to be a bad person. I think some people confuse the two when it comes to some of these murderers. The 3 victims didn't abuse their murderers as kids. They didn't abuse their murderers at any time for that matter. They didn't even know their killers! So they don't get the childhood trauma pass. Had they murdered their childhood abusers or even someone who was attempting to abuse them in a similar fashion.. than I could see taking it into consideration but childhood trauma isn't an automatic pass to inflict any horrific act of violence you can think of on your fellow man free from consequences. They both deserve to stay exactly where they are and should actually be thanking their lucky stars that their life hasn't been snuffed out as quickly as they snuffed out the lives of their victims.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Om sick of people using abuse as a child excuse to free murderers or anybody for that matter. Many people suffer the same abuse as kids and don't become serial killers. And how do we know the abuse claims are true? Just because the defense attorney makes that claim? Of course the defense will make that claim for obvious reasons. And before some bleeding heart lib says anything assumptive I come from an abuse home with my parents both being alcoholic and drug addicts. Not once have I murdered anybody or committed any violent crime.
DeleteAmen to that. They need to go on ahead and excute her boyfriend Mitchell Sims
ReplyDeletePlease do not release this person from jail. They murdered my cousin. It is unthinkable the torture that he went through. As he took a shift for his friend at work and was murdered. His Mother just died this year and she can finally reunite with her son now after all these years.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. I agree.
ReplyDelete