GREENWOOD, S.C. — A man from Laurens County has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for fatally shooting another man following a child custody hearing. Stephen Andrew White, 35, entered a guilty plea to charges of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, resulting in the death of Erin Lee Thomas, 34, from Woodruff.
White’s sentencing took place on April 20, with Circuit Judge Frank R. Addy Jr. imposing a 35-year sentence for the murder charge and five years for the weapon charge, to be served consecutively. The incident occurred on August 12, 2024, outside the Laurens County Courthouse, shortly after a family court session concerning White’s wife and their child.
According to prosecutors, the custody hearing did not erupt into conflict. However, tensions escalated once the participants exited the courthouse and gathered in the parking lot. After separating from his attorney, White drove toward Thomas, who was standing next to his vehicle. White struck Thomas with his car, causing severe injuries, including broken bones, before stepping out with a firearm.
Witnesses reported that White stood over Thomas, who was incapacitated on the ground. After a malfunction, White managed to fire the weapon again, fatally wounding Thomas in the head. Law enforcement arrived shortly after the shots were fired, and White discarded the firearm before surrendering to deputies.
Thomas received emergency treatment at the courthouse lot and was later transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Investigators characterized the shooting as an isolated incident, noting that bystanders were not harmed, and courthouse staff acted swiftly to secure the area.
The resolution of the case coincided with the start of White’s trial, which had been scheduled for that day. Instead of proceeding to jury selection, White chose to plead guilty. Prosecutors described the attack as premeditated with deeply personal motivations, pointing out that it not only ended Thomas’s life but also affected the child involved in the custody dispute.
Defense attorney Chelsea McNeill shared insights into White’s state of mind, indicating he was still grappling with the revelation that he was not the biological father to a child he had been raising. She claimed that following this discovery, along with his wife’s prior relationship with Thomas, contributed to White’s actions. Prosecutors countered that he had known about the paternity for approximately a year, arguing that this suggested a calculated motive rather than a rash reaction.
Thomas’s family articulated the profound loss they experienced due to the violence. His grandmother, Kay McMahan Trotter, described Thomas as a devoted father who prioritized his child’s well-being, even assisting White and his wife financially to ensure stability. Trotter’s emotional statements during the sentencing underscored the personal impact of the tragedy, shifting the focus from the shooter to the victim and his family’s grief.
The courtroom incident reflects the tragic consequences that can emerge from disputes in family court, illustrating a painful reality for affected families. Following nearly 20 months of legal proceedings, White’s sentence is now in effect, marking a definitive conclusion to the case, while the victim’s family continues to navigate their loss amidst the lingering effects of violence.