David Adam Pate, 24, of Lancaster, South Carolina was charged with the murder of 33-year-old Ricky James on Friday. In the booking process, Pate left one of the most frightening mug shots ever as he displayed facial tattoos reading “FEAR,” “SATAN,” an upside down cross dripping tears and a surgically altered forked tongue.
According to WISTV, deputies were called out when a group of playing children came upon the decomposed body of James. Investigators believe James went into the woods with Pate 5 weeks ago and that Pate killed James there and left his body beneath a pile of brush.
The Sheriff’s Office has not determined a motive for the murder yet. Sheriff Barry Faile said:
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. James. Our investigators did a great job putting this case together. We suspected Pate almost immediately but had to wait on lab results to prove it. We are thankful he is in jail where he belongs.”
Locating Pate after receiving the lab results turned out to be an easy task as he was already behind bars after being arrested two weeks prior for disorderly conduct.
HT: Gawker
