Police: Man had blood on clothes when arrested in 4 deaths

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – A South Carolina man beat his grandparents, an aunt and a cousin to death and was arrested by officers who noted blood on his clothes and shoes when they arrived, authorities said.

Lovequawn Matthew Shaire Scott is charged with four counts of murder. He refused to sign papers and appear Sunday before a magistrate, upsetting the family of the victims.

"I'm angered that he had the audacity to refuse to come down and face us," Valerie Gilliard-Anthony, a niece of Scott's grandparents.

Joseph Manigault, 72; his wife Rose Manigault, 69; Scott's aunt, Kenya Manigault, 42; and his cousin, Faith Manigault, 15, were all found dead Saturday at the Mount Pleasant home Scott shared with his grandparents by someone who called 911 after finding two bodies in a garage, according to sworn statements by police.

Two more bodies were found in a bedroom, authorities said.

Scott, 22, was there too with an injured hand and blood on his clothes, affidavits said.

The coroner's office said it appeared all four victims were beaten to death, but they ordered autopsies to get more information.

Charleston County deputies have not released a motive for the killing, and family members at Scott's court hearing Sunday said they aren't sure either why Scott would attack his family.

"They took that boy from a baby, a few days old — a few days after he was born — and they raised him," said Estelle Manigault Grant, a sister of Joseph Manigault. "And he had the nerve to do something to some good people like them. What he did a dog or a cat doesn't deserve it."

Dozens of family members packed the magistrate's courtroom, where a television screen where Scott would have appeared showed a blank wall. His lawyer said Scott decided not to appear because the magistrate could not set bond.

Grant said the family is dealing with so many emotions.

"He deserves whatever he gets," she said, pausing to stifle a sob. "My heart is so .... please pray for our family."