BY JIM FAIR
The City of Greer Police Department is renewing its request to the public for help in solving a 20-year-old bank robbery that resulted tn three people being killed – a bank employee and two customers.
On May 16, 2003, three people were found dead inside the Blue Ridge Savings Bank, a single-wide mobile home in an apparent robbery. The bank was located on Frontage Road and I-85 near Highway 14.
The award for information about the crime has been raised to $100,000.
Police report Sylvia Holtzclaw, 56, the lone employee in the bank and two customers, Spartanburg couple Eb, 61, and his wife Margaret (Maggie) Barnes, 58, were killed. Their bodies were reportedly found in the utility closet.
Eb Barnes was a physics professor and coordinator of the program at the University of South Carolina Upstate. His wife, Margaret, was a receptionist and convention coordinator for the National Beta Club.
The police department continues to investigate this case and hopes that someone will come forward and provide information that will help investigators solve this crime and bring closure to the victim’s families.
"This would absolutely be the highlight of my career if this case is solved while I am around here.” said Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby. "Nothing is too small. At this point in time, we absolutely need every possible communication that can be provided to us."
Det. Dale Arteburn, who was on the case the day of the shootings, said he sees the poster reminding hime of the crimes, produced by the FBI, everyday as he enters his office. "I believe there is someone out there who knows what happened that day," Arterburn said. "It’s too big of a case for someone to not (know information) about the case. I don’t know if the person is still alive who did it, but I believe someone knows something."
A video, produced by the City Communications Office, to help remember the victims of the crime and help generate leads in this case is located here.
Anyone with information concerning this case should contact the Greer Police Department at (864) 848-2151 or the FBI Office in Greenville, South Carolina at (803) 551-4200. Anonymous tips to the FBI can be made here.