The Tragic Death of Davis McClendon: A Case of Murder or Accident?

A Fatal Night in Greenwood, South Carolina

On May 7, 2023, authorities in Greenwood, South Carolina, arrived at a deserted intersection after 1 a.m. to find a mangled BMW sedan sprawled across the road, debris scattered around it. The car’s owner, 46-year-old Davis McClendon, lay fatally injured on the shoulder near the woods, about 50 feet away from his vehicle. His shirt and shoe were found on the pavement, and there was no other vehicle with significant damage at the scene. This seemingly straightforward accident, however, raised suspicions. McClendon’s girlfriend, Meredith Haynie, was present when authorities arrived, but she claimed she had not witnessed the collision. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident would soon unravel as a meticulously planned murder, with Haynie’s soon-to-be-ex-husband, Bud Ackerman, emerging as the prime suspect.

Meredith Haynie’s Account and the Investigation

Meredith Haynie recounted the events of that night to investigators. She and McClendon had spent the evening Together, starting at a restaurant called Break on the Lake, then attending a party, and finally visiting a local club called Key West. At around 12:51 a.m., McClendon suddenly left the club through the back door. Haynie suspected he was going to meet Ackerman, who had been critical of their relationship and had been calling and texting her compulsively throughout the night. She voluntarily shared her phone records with investigators, which corroborated her story and revealed a pattern of obsessive communication from Ackerman.

Authorities quickly shifted their focus to Ackerman. They discovered an oil trail leading from the crash site directly to Ackerman’s residence. Evidence suggested that Ackerman’s Ford F-250 pickup truck had sideswiped McClendon’s BMW, striking him near the driver’s door and carrying him across the road to where his body was found. When investigators located Ackerman at his parents’ home, just half a mile from the crash site, they found his truck leaking oil in the driveway. Ackerman, however, refused to cooperate with the investigation and referred authorities to his attorney.

The Digital Evidence That Spoke Volumes

As the investigation progressed, authorities retrieved time-stamped video footage placing Ackerman at the same locations where Haynie and McClendon had been earlier that evening, as well as near the crash site. But it was the data from Ackerman’s truck’s infotainment system that proved to be the most damning evidence. Modern vehicles, like Ackerman’s Ford F-250, are equipped with touch screen computers that store detailed information about the vehicle’s operation, including speed, acceleration, braking patterns, and even wi-fi connectivity.

Lead detective Lt. Matthew Womack explained that Ackerman’s truck logged over 3,000 time-stamped events in a 24-hour period, creating a digital blueprint of his movements. The truck automatically pinged public Wi-Fi systems it passed, creating a digital trail that allowed investigators to map Ackerman’s route that night. The data showed that Ackerman had driven past Key West Club, Haynie’s house, Break on the Lake restaurant, and McClendon’s street. Crucially, it also placed Ackerman’s truck near the crash site at the exact time of the collision.

The infotainment system revealed even more incriminating details. Seconds before the impact, Ackerman was driving at about 25 miles per hour on a dark, dead-end road he likely knew well. At 1:11:33 a.m., the data recorded a “wheel slip,” indicating that the tires had lost contact with the road due to acceleration or braking. Investigators could pinpoint the collision to within tenths of a second. Immediately afterward, the truck stopped, and Ackerman got out, shifted it into park, and later drove to his home, where he disconnected his phone from the vehicle and exited the truck for the final time.

The Defense’s Argument: An Accident, Not Murder

Bud Ackerman’s attorney, Jack Swerling, argued that the prosecution’s narrative of premeditated murder was flawed. Swerling acknowledged that Ackerman was upset about his wife’s relationship with McClendon before their divorce was finalized and admitted that Ackerman had struck McClendon and his BMW that night. However, he maintained that the incident was an accident. According to Swerling, McClendon was standing farther out in the road than prosecutors claimed, and the darkness of the night made it impossible for Ackerman to see him until the last few moments. Swerling argued that Ackerman was trying to avoid hitting McClendon and had aimed for the empty car to stop the truck’s forward momentum.

The Verdict and Its Aftermath

After a seven-day trial in the fall of 2023, the jury rejected Ackerman’s defense and convicted him of murdering Davis McClendon with “malice aforethought.” The judge sentenced Ackerman to 45 years in prison. The case highlighted the critical role of modern technology in solving crimes, as the data from Ackerman’s truck provided the evidence needed to prove intent and dismantle his claim of an accidental collision.

Meredith Haynie, who shared her story in an exclusive interview with “48 Hours,” continues to grapple with the loss of McClendon and the revelation that Ackerman’s actions were not merely impulsive but deliberate. The case serves as a chilling reminder of how jealousy and anger can escalate into violence, and how the digital footprint left behind by modern vehicles can unlock the truth even in the most complex and tragic of circumstances.