Allon T. Adams, a 24 year old Leesville man, has been sentenced to Life in prison following his conviction in Lexington County for Murder, Armed Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy, and Possession of a Weapon during commission of a Violent Crime. Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV, imposed the life sentence on the murder charge and concurrent sentences on the remaining charges. Adams is not eligible for parole under South Carolina law.

Adams was convicted for the murder of Tony Etheredge, Jr., (photographed below) 35, who was shot in the Leesville area on December 30, 2023. The trial began on November 17th and concluded on Friday, November 21st when the Lexington County jury returned its verdict in approximately 43 minutes.

This case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes. The murder investigation was conducted by Det. John Reed of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Unit.

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated, “We greatly appreciate the efforts of Sheriff Jay Koon and the entire Sheriff’s Department in their work on this case. This was a calculated and senseless act of violence – carried out with a complete disregard for human life. Our office remains committed in our mission to protect our community from violent offenders. Our thoughts remain with Tony Etheredge Jr.’s family as they continue to heal from this tremendous loss.”

In the early morning hours of December 30, 2023, Etheredge was lured to a location on Rish Road in Leesville by a female accomplice of Adams. Adams and the female co-defendant had planned together to rob Etheredge and steal his 2014 Toyota Tacoma truck. Etheredge had just left work when he arrived at the location to meet the female. Etheredge was then directed to an isolated area of Parrish Road, where he was shot and killed by Adams. Adams and the female co-defendant then stole the truck. They disposed of Etheredge’s body over a bridge into Black Creek, near Pelion.

Tony Etheredge, Jr. was reported missing by his family and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department issued a Missing Person statement requesting any information from the public as to Etheredge’s whereabouts. Etheredge’s Toyota Tacoma truck was later found abandoned in an open field on Truex Road in Leesville. Law enforcement pursued many leads which led to Adams being developed as a suspect in the case.

After killing Etheredge, Adams and the co-defendant made multiple attempts to conceal their involvement and misdirect investigators. They had taken efforts to extensively clean the truck prior to leaving it in the field. A Crime Scene Investigator determined the truck had evidence of a bullet defect in the driver’s seat, where Etheredge had been shot. A towel and hoodie were found near the truck, which were sent to SLED for DNA analysis. Testimony at trial established that DNA recovered on the towel and hoodie definitively linked Adams to the scene.

Digital evidence from multiple cell phones belonging to Adams revealed that he made admissions about the crime which were consistent with physical and forensic evidence in this case. At trial, video and audio recordings of Adams discussing the crime were admitted as evidence.

The parents of the victim, Tony Etherdge, Jr., addressed the court during sentencing to convey the devastating impact of his loss on their family. Etheredge was described by all who knew him as a hardworking young man who cherished his family.

Adams has been transported to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin immediate service of the life sentence.