The Twisted Tale of Larry Gene Bell

Introduction to a Series of Horrors

In the dark annals of American crime, Larry Gene Bell's name looms large as a serial killer who terrorized the Carolinas during the mid-1980s. Born on October 30, 1949, in Ralph, Alabama, Bell's life would eventually spiral into a series of heinous acts, culminating in his execution by electrocution at South Carolina's Broad River Correctional Institution on October 4, 1996. Convicted of kidnapping and murdering two young women, Bell's crimes extended beyond these convictions, leaving a lingering shadow of suspicion over several other disappearances.

Early Life: A Prelude to Darkness

Larry Gene Bell's upbringing was marked by frequent relocations alongside his family, consisting of his three sisters and one brother. After attending Eau Claire High School in Columbia, South Carolina, from 1965 to 1967, Bell and his family moved to Mississippi, where he completed high school and trained as an electrician. He returned to Columbia, married, and had a son. In 1970, Bell briefly served in the United States Marine Corps but was discharged after a self-inflicted knee injury while cleaning a gun. His career as a correctional officer was equally short-lived, lasting only a month in 1971. Following a move to Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 1972, Bell's marriage ended in divorce by 1976.

The Victims: Lives Cut Short

Confirmed Victims

On November 18, 1984, the disappearance of 26-year-old Sandee Elaine Cornett in Charlotte, North Carolina, marked the beginning of Bell's confirmed crimes. Cornett was last seen arriving home at 6:30 p.m., but when she failed to appear at work the next day, her neighbor reported her missing. Bell, a former co-worker of Cornett's boyfriend, emerged as the prime suspect due to his presence at a party at her home. Despite his denials, Bell's cryptic statements and a map he drew hinted at her burial location. In February 2025, decades after her disappearance, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officially identified Bell as her killer, even though Cornett's remains have never been discovered.

The tragedy continued on May 31, 1985, when 17-year-old Shari Faye Smith was abducted at gunpoint from her driveway in Lexington County, South Carolina. Her abandoned car was found near the mailbox, a chilling prelude to the torment her family would endure. Over the next days, Bell taunted the Smiths through phone calls, falsely assuring them of Shari's well-being. Unbeknownst to them, she had likely been murdered within 12 hours of her abduction. Bell later provided directions to her body in Saluda County, forcing her to write a "Last Will and Testament" before her death.

Less than two weeks later, on June 14, Bell struck again, kidnapping and killing 9-year-old Debra May Helmick near Old Percival Road in Richland County. As with his previous crime, Bell called the Smith family to reveal the location of her body.

Suspected Victims

Bell's criminal reach likely extended beyond these confirmed cases. He is a suspect in the disappearance of Denise Newsom Porch, last seen on July 31, 1975, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Porch, who managed the Yorktown Apartments, vanished without a trace, and her family declared her legally dead seven years later. Bell, residing just 300 yards from the apartments in 1975, fits the profile of a potential suspect, though he was never charged.

The Hunt and Capture

The pursuit of Bell became the largest manhunt in South Carolina's history. During this time, Bell made eight phone calls to the Smith family, often speaking to Shari's sister, Dawn, and mistakenly revealing his obsession with her. Bell's slip, saying "All I wanted to do was make love with Dawn," instead of Shari, hinted at his confusion, driven perhaps by the sisters' resemblance. This fixation fueled his continued harassment through phone calls, ultimately leading to his capture.

On June 27, 1985, a breakthrough came when forensic experts discovered indentations of an incomplete phone number on the stationery used in a letter to the Smith family. By filling in the missing digits, the FBI traced it back to a couple who had employed Bell and allowed him to house-sit. Evidence mounted as six hairs microscopically similar to Shari Smith's were found in Bell's apartment.

The Trial: A Theatre of Madness

Bell's trial was marked by his erratic behavior and bizarre outbursts during a six-hour testimony. His nonsensical ramblings and refusal to answer questions suggested an attempt to feign mental illness, possibly to avoid the death penalty. Despite these antics, the evidence against him was overwhelming, leading to his conviction.

Execution: The Final Curtain

Opting for the electric chair over lethal injection, Bell met his fate on October 4, 1996, at the age of 46. He faced his execution without uttering any final words, marking the end of a chilling chapter in criminal history. It would be another eight years before South Carolina would see another execution by electrocution, with James Neil Tucker in 2004.

Media Portrayals: The Legacy of Fear

The harrowing tale of Larry Gene Bell's crimes has been immortalized in various media. The television movie "Nightmare in Columbia County," also known as "Victim of Beauty: The Dawn Smith Story," aired on December 10, 1991, focusing on Dawn Smith's involvement in the case and her subsequent rise to Miss America 1987. Other portrayals include Investigation Discovery's "I, Witness," "The Smith Sisters," and episodes from "Forensic Files" and "On the Case with Paula Zahn."

Conclusion

Larry Gene Bell's reign of terror left an indelible mark on the Carolinas. His calculated cruelty and psychological torment of his victims' families underscore the depths of his depravity. Though justice was served with his execution, the shadow of his suspected, unresolved crimes lingers, a somber reminder of the lives lost and the enduring impact of his actions.

Sources

For more detailed information, visit the original Wikipedia article on Larry Gene Bell.