Sumter County Sheriff's Office searches for kidnapper, break-in suspect

NELSON

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is looking for Demetric Jerod Nelson, a 27-year-old Sumter man, accused of kidnapping and robbing a 53-year-old woman at gunpoint early this morning, according to information released from the Sheriff’s Office.

Nelson, whose last known address was 319 Manning Avenue in Sumter, is a black male standing 6 foot 1 inch tall and weighing about 148 pounds. He has black dreadlocked hair and brown eyes. Nelson has a tattoo of a crown under his right eye, the release said.

Nelson has a history of violent offense convictions and has been placed on the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Most Wanted list. He should be considered armed and dangerous.

According to reports, about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the suspect entered the home of a 53-year-old woman in the 1800 block of River Birch Drive. Upon entering, the suspect allegedly demanded money from the victim, and then ordered the victim to drive him to an address on Manning Avenue, approximately 4 miles away, the release said.

Upon arriving at the Manning Avenue address, the suspect then allegedly forced the victim at gunpoint to get into the trunk of her car. However, according to the victim, it became clear that the suspect was unable to drive a car with a manual transmission. After waiting for a while, the victim triggered the emergency latch from inside the trunk, and after climbing out of the vehicle noticed a Sumter Police Department patrol car driving by. According to reports, the victim then flagged down the officer, and the suspect fled from the scene on foot.

K-9 units responding to the scene attempted to track Nelson through the Manning Avenue area, but were unsuccessful. Officers did recover several articles of clothing the suspect was believed to be wearing, including one of his shoes.

Anyone with any information into Nelson’s whereabouts is asked to contact either the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 436-2000, or Crime Stoppers at (7803) 436- 2718.