Bio

Jerry Bridwell McWee was born on December 29, 1952. He had worked in law enforcement. He had previously served as a police officer in Augusta, Georgia. Later reports also described him as having worked as an emergency medical technician and security guard.

By 1991, McWee was living in South Carolina. He became connected to George Wade Scott, who later became his co-defendant and testified against him. Reports from the case state that McWee was using drugs and needed money before the robbery that led to John Perry’s death.

Murder Story

On July 6, 1991, Jerry Bridwell McWee and George Wade Scott went to a rural convenience store in Aiken County, South Carolina. John Perry was working there as the store clerk.

Prosecutors said McWee needed money for drugs. During the robbery, McWee took Perry to the back of the store and shot him twice in the head with a .38-caliber revolver. McWee and Scott then stole about $350 from the cash register.

About a week later, McWee and Scott were involved in another killing. The victim was David Willis, McWee’s boss. Scott fired the shots in that case, but McWee was also held responsible. McWee later pleaded guilty to Willis’s murder and received a life sentence.

McWee was tried for John Perry’s murder and armed robbery. Scott testified against him as part of a plea agreement. On January 23, 1994, McWee was sentenced to death.

McWee appealed several times, but his conviction and death sentence were upheld. His final appeals and request for clemency were rejected in April 2004.

Jerry Bridwell McWee was executed by lethal injection in South Carolina on April 16, 2004. His final statement asked for forgiveness from both his family and John Perry’s family.