Shortly after 1 a.m. on May 7, 2023, authorities in Greenwood, South Carolina, responded to a reported road accident. On a secluded street, they found the body of 46-year-old Davis McClendon near a severely damaged BMW 5 Series sedan. At the scene, apart from McClendon’s body lying 50 feet away from the car, was a shirt, a shoe, and more debris.
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Investigator Patrick Durkin arrived to document the scene. The significant damage to the fender of the BMW and the unusual twisting back of the metal suggested to investigators that McClendon had been struck by another vehicle.
Two women, Meredith Haynie and Megan McGovern, who had called 911, provided vital statements. Haynie, who had been dating Davis, recounted her last interaction with him, revealing that McClendon had left a club that night to meet her and ended up on a call with her from his car, parked at the intersection of Avid Road and Sawgrass Place. When McClendon had abruptly gone silent on the call, Haynie had felt a deep sense of worry.
First responder Ronny Powell indicated initial suspicions: McClendon was likely outside his BMW when he was hit, leaving behind oil on the road. Tracking these clues, investigators traced the oil along the road towards a directional lead.
Investigator Ronny Powell followed a hunch, strengthened by Haynie’s information. McClendon had possibly intended to meet Haynie’s estranged husband, Bud Ackerman, that evening. The oil trail led them to Ackerman’s parents’ home.
Bodycam footage revealed interactions with Ackerman, who had spent the day with his children. In the driveway, investigators found his white Ford F-250 leaking oil and showing evidence of recent damage.
As Haynie spoke about her relationship with McClendon, she described him as empathetic and praised how he had made her feel whole again. Their relationship developed amidst her ongoing divorce from Ackerman, which her husband had not taken lightly.
Investigators surmised, through evidence at the scene and statements from associated individuals, that Ackerman had known about Haynie’s relationship with McClendon and didn’t approve. Their suspicion was that Ackerman had deliberately run over McClendon in a fit of jealousy.
At Ackerman’s house, footprints and oil tracks indicated a connection to the crash site. On the morning of May 7, 2023, authorities arrested Bud Ackerman, charging him with McClendon’s murder based on the suspicious evidence.
Investigators employed detailed data from Ackerman’s truck, which captured a timeline of his vehicle activities that night. Information showed Ackerman’s truck reached a speed of 25 miles per hour, hit the brakes, and stopped moments later. Ackerman’s actions and the vehicle’s computer detail painted a more incriminating picture.
In court, Assistant Attorneys General John Conrad and John Meadors presented the case against Ackerman. Time-stamped videos placed Ackerman’s truck at the crash scene at the right moment. Witnesses testified, including Megan McGovern and Haynie, corroborating the state’s argument.
Ackerman’s defense, led by Jack Swerling, tried to persuade the jury that the collision was accidental. They argued Ackerman was trying to find Haynie, suggesting McClendon himself had been confrontational.
The jury’s verdict: guilty. The swift decision suggests a belief in Ackerman’s guilt. McClendon’s friends and family urged the need to remember McClendon’s virtues and personality while grappling with the tragedy of his loss.
Today, Ackerman serves a 45-year sentence without the possibility of parole. His appeal is pending, and Méridien Haynie continues to manage the aftermath, focusing on her children and cherishing the memory of Davis McClendon.