Carolina fugitive attempts local murder

South Carolina Probation and Parole agents have been looking for 44 year-old William Henry Woodson who is a convicted child sex offender that violated his probation; Historic City News has learned that their search is over.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chuck Mulligan reported that Woodson entered a transient camp located in a wooded area near SR-207 tonight — continuing an argument with his girlfriend that was apparently seeking refuge at that encampment.

When the argument between Woodson and his girlfriend turned violent, an un-named victim ordered the pair to leave the camp. Mulligan says his office is withholding the identity of the victim due to the severity of his injuries until his family can be notified.

According to the witnesses, Woodson began a fight with the victim and had him on the ground — striking him repeatedly. The incident report says the girlfriend picked up a small axe. She is reported to have struck Woodson with the back of the axe; hitting him, at least once, in the head.

Injured at that point, Woodson wrangled the axe away from his girlfriend — then he used it to attack the victim in his arm and shoulder area; inflicting life threatening wounds.

Both Woodson and the victim were taken by air ambulance to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville for treatment. Woodson was listed in “serious condition” however; he walked out of the facility prior to St. Johns County detectives concluding their investigation.

Subsequently, local investigators learned of Woodson’s outstanding South Carolina warrant — probation agents have been looking for him since September 13th. Woodson was convicted of committing or attempting to commit a lewd act on a child under 16 years-old. The age of his victim at time of the crime was 9 years-old. The victim was female.

“This type of offender, a sex offender whose primary victims are children, is of great concern to me and my office,” said South Carolina Probation and Parole agent Mitchell Ray.

In the meantime, Jacksonville police officers located Woodson waiting for a ride in another area of the hospital and arrested him on the outstanding warrant.

St. Johns County investigators are completing their charges related to the attempted murder.

Before he fled South Carolina, Woodson was picked up on unrelated charges by Berkeley County authorities. He gave a phony address when he was booked into the jail. When Woodson was released, he disappeared — until today.

“He’s not a nice person,” Mitchell warned. “He’s not a person you should approach — he has a long criminal record.”

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph