A tragic love triangle took a deadly turn in South Carolina when a husband, struggling with the breakdown of his marriage, used his truck to fatally strike his estranged wife’s new boyfriend.
The courtroom drama concluded with a 45-year prison sentence for William “Bud” Ackerman Jr., 43, of Greenwood, South Carolina, following his conviction for the murder of Kenneth Davis McClendon, 46.
Swift Verdict Following Chilling Testimonies
After only 22 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict in the case, sealing Ackerman’s fate.
The fatal incident occurred on May 7, 2023, when Ackerman hit McClendon with his Ford F-150 truck during the early morning hours.
McClendon’s body was found bloodied and lifeless outside his vehicle, a disturbing scene discovered by Ackerman’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Meredith Haynie, and their nanny.
A Marriage Unraveled
Ackerman and Haynie had been together for over a decade, sharing three children aged 7, 9, and 11.
They had separated in May 2022, and by December, Haynie had begun dating McClendon.
Despite the new relationship, Haynie testified that her separation from Ackerman had nothing to do with McClendon.
Ackerman’s reaction to learning about the relationship in April 2023 was one of anger and hurt.
In a text message to a friend, he expressed his frustration, saying, “He’s been f**king Meredith.”
Ackerman also admitted to knowing McClendon for his entire life, which deepened the sense of betrayal.
The Fatal Night
The night of the fatal incident was filled with tension.
Haynie and McClendon had attended a Kentucky Derby party together, but the night took a dark turn when Ackerman began calling his estranged wife repeatedly.
He was upset that she wouldn’t reconcile with him.
Haynie ignored several of Ackerman’s calls, but eventually answered one at 12:38 a.m., during which Ackerman revealed he was driving around looking for them.
McClendon, meanwhile, insisted that she not call the police.
Shortly after McClendon left the bar they had been at, tragedy struck. Ackerman found McClendon and, in a fit of rage, hit him with his truck.
McClendon was found with one shoe on and no shirt, having gotten into a heated confrontation with Ackerman moments before the deadly impact.
The Aftermath and Sentencing
Police found Ackerman at his parents’ home, located about a half-mile from the crash site.
Evidence against him mounted, with a dent on his truck’s hood, a palm print on the vehicle, and McClendon’s blood on Ackerman’s shorts.
In court, McClendon’s family shared their grief, with his father, mother, and siblings all delivering emotional statements.
McClendon’s teenage daughter, Blair, was so overwhelmed by emotion during her victim impact statement that her mother had to step in and finish her words.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and emotional testimonies, Ackerman showed no remorse.
His father, Dr. William “Gray” Ackerman, spoke on his behalf, highlighting his son’s work ethic but offering no apology to the victim’s family.
Justice Served
In the end, the jury was convinced of Ackerman’s guilt, and he was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
He will serve his sentence at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, where he awaits his transfer from a single cell to the general prison population.
The tragic case leaves two families shattered, six children fatherless, and lingering questions about the consequences of unchecked emotions and unresolved conflicts.
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