Officials arrest sex offender in Clemson killing

Published Wednesday, June 7, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - A sex offender wanted in the rape, kidnapping and killing of a Clemson University student from Missouri who was strangled with a bikini top was arrested late last night in Jefferson County, Tenn.

Jerry Buck Inman was taken into custody without resistance during a traffic stop about a mile from his parents’ home in Dandridge, Tenn., Sheriff David Davenport said.

Inman was being taken to the county jail, Davenport said. The department didn’t release any other details about the arrest.

Inman’s DNA matched samples taken from Tiffany Marie Souers’ off-campus apartment, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said.

Souers, a 20-year-old civil engineering junior from Ladue, was wearing only a bra when she was found on her bedroom floor a few miles from campus nearly two weeks ago. The bikini top was still around her neck.

Prosecutor Bob Ariail also said she was bound by her wrists and neck, which led to the kidnapping charge.

Inman, 35, was registered as a sex offender in September in Florida after he was released from prison for kidnapping and sexual battery and in North Carolina about seven years ago for an unspecified sex offense.

Souers’ father was impressed with how quickly authorities were able to capture Inman after they matched his DNA.

"I think it’s just absolutely spectacular," said Jim Souers, who was previously frustrated as the days after his daughter’s killing mounted without an arrest.

After hearing about Inman’s capture, Jim Souers was quick to praise state and local authorities.

"The speed was incredible," he said, noting that authorities had only released Inman’s photo to the public just a few hours before he was captured. "Now all we need is a conviction."

Souers’ body was discovered about 12 hours after authorities think the junior was killed in her apartment early on May 26.

Souers’ brother said he was smiling from ear to ear when he heard Inman had been apprehended.

"I gave my mom a hug, and she said she felt happy for the first time in a while," 16-year-old Trevor Souers said. "I was just really relieved."

Souers’ apartment building is in the back of a sprawling three-story apartment complex about three miles from Clemson’s campus. A construction site of new townhouses is adjacent but below the complex parking lot.

Inman was a construction worker, but authorities didn’t know yesterday if he had worked near the apartments.

Before Inman’s arrest, Souers’ father told the AP he was upset a company might hire a convicted felon and sex offender, especially near a college campus.

"I find the whole concept amazing," Jim Souers said. "It’s amazing that this employer created a venue."

Souers’ friend, Erica Cooler, said she noticed the construction workers when she visited the apartment, but she never felt threatened.

"I didn’t think it would be solved so quickly," said Cooler, 20. "I just hope they caught the right person."

Cooler had earlier watched a news conference on television, surrounded by friends and family that identified Inman.

"When I saw the face on the screen, I guess it makes it more real," Cooler said. "He’s a scary-looking guy."

Cooler said she didn’t recognize the man, and it wasn’t someone her friends would hang around.

"Tiffany was always polite, but I can’t even imagine anyone carrying on a conversation with him," Cooler said.

Ariail said investigators had no information that there was ever a relationship, "except for the one instance that she was killed."

Ashley Ellis watched with Cooler, and after Inman’s face came on, tears began streaming down her face.

"It could have been any one of us," said Ellis, a 20-year-old business student. "There hasn’t been one night I haven’t had a nightmare."