Bio

Robert W. South was born in 1945. As he grew up, he lived in South Carolina, where he would eventually become known for his actions in the early 1980s.

In 1983, South became involved in a serious incident that would change his life forever. On April 12 of that year, during a drive-by shooting in West Columbia, he killed a police officer named Daniel Cogburn. South's actions were reported widely in the media, which brought him into the public eye.

After the crime, South was arrested and faced a trial. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He remained on death row for over a decade. On May 31, 1996, he was executed by lethal injection in South Carolina.

Beyond these facts, not much else is known about Robert W. South's personal life. His early years remain largely a mystery.

Murder Story

On April 12, 1983, Robert W. South committed a drive-by shooting in Lexington County, South Carolina. His victim was 29-year-old Officer Daniel Wayne Cogburn of the West Columbia Police Department. At that time, Officer Cogburn was writing a traffic ticket while sitting in his squad car. South shot him from a passing pickup truck, killing him instantly.

After the incident, police arrested South. He faced charges for the murder of Officer Cogburn. A jury found him guilty. He was sentenced to death for his crime. Over the years, Robert South spent time on death row. He eventually stopped all his appeals and accepted his fate.

On May 31, 1996, South was executed by lethal injection in South Carolina. He was 51 years old at the time of his execution. He was the second man executed in South Carolina in ten months. Officer Cogburn had only served four days on the police force when he was killed. He left behind a wife, a daughter, and two sons.