Sarah Bates Independent-Mail Officers wait near a house where a gunman was holed up after a constable was killed.

Mother and son denied bond

By Charmaine Smith
Independent-Mail
December 9, 2003

GREENWOOD — Father and son Arthur and Steven Bixby were charged with murder in the deaths of two officers whose shootings led to a day-long standoff at the Bixbys' Abbeville home.

A defiant Steven Bixby told reporters at his Tuesday afternoon arraignment in the Greenwood County Courthouse that the officers were shot in self-defense.

"They started it. They started it," he said.

The body of Abbeville sheriff's Sgt. Danny Wilson was found about 10 feet inside the Bixby's home. He had been shot in the chest and his hands were cuffed behind his back, said SLED Chief Robert Stewart.

He had arrived at the home at 9:15 a.m. Shortly after that, Lt. Debbie Graham arrived to check on Sgt. Wilson. Constable Donnie Ouzts, 63, came a few minutes later. He was shot in the back as he got out of his patrol car.

The younger Mr. Bixby, appearing before Judge Joe Cantrell, made several anti-government comments. "Live free or die," he said at one point.

Before the hearing Mr. Bixby saw Abbeville Sheriff Charles Goodwin walk into the courtroom. "I see Charles has a smile on his face today," he said.

Judge Cantrell denied bond for Steven Bixby and for his mother, Rita, 71, who was charged with misprision of felony and being an accessory to murder. All three of the Bixbys also are charged with conspiracy.

During her hearing, Mrs. Bixby remained calm. "I'm not guilty, I'm not guilty," she told the judge at one point.

Authorities still are not saying why Sgt. Wilson went to the Bixby house, although the Associated Press reported it was because of reports the men had threatened state Department of Transportation workers who are widening S.C. 72 in front of the Bixby home.

Neighbors said Monday the Bixbys were angry the project would encroach on their property even though a previous owner had give the state the right of way long ago.

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