Investigators avoid speculation in Clemson student’s death

Though there has been speculation that last year’s death of a Clemson student in Oconee was an accident, Sheriff Mike Crenshaw said his office is resisting speculation and, in answer to a reporter’s question, is not willing to conclude that Tucker Hipps’ death was an accident. Early one morning last September 19-year old Hipps, in the company of other students, went running on highway 93, but fell to his death from a bridge 20-23 feet into Lake Hartwell. Earlier in the investigation Crenshaw acknowledged the possibility of hazing, but he called that speculation and innuendo and stressed today there is still no official determination, nor can he say when there might be one. Important as it is to solve the Hipps’ case, Crenshaw said there are other unsolved deaths that have gone years without a resolution and his office is committed to solving them, also. By name, he mentioned the homicide of Marcus in the 1980s and the disappearance Shelia Carver in the 90s. One of the Sheriff’s Office accomplishments in 2014 was the hiring of a part-time cold case investigator, Dean Brown, who works three days a week and is making progress, according to Crenshaw.