Sandy Rogers is first female Aiken County law enforcer killed in the line of duty; Joshua Jones charged in killing

Aiken Department of Public Safety Master Corporal Sandy Rogers became the first female Aiken County law enforcer to be slain in the line of duty on Saturday.  She would have been 49 years old later this year.

AIKEN -- Saturday was a sad day. And not just for Aiken County residents, either.

It was also a sad day in women's history as well.

Master Corporal Sandy Rogers, a 27-year veteran of law enforcement who joined the force upon her 21st birthday, died from unsurvivable injuries after she was shot by a man named Joshua Jones, who hours earlier killed 21-year-old Cayce Vice, his pregnant girlfriend, on the other side of the Savannah River.  Mr. Jones has been charged with two counts of murder, or will be charged with those counts come Monday morning.

Master Cpl. Rogers, 48, is the first female Aiken County law enforcer to be killed in the line of duty.

Officer Scotty Richardson, 33, was killed just 38 days earlier.  Like Master Cpl. Rogers, he was also an officer with the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

UPDATE: The Aiken Standard reports that Mr. Jones has now been officially charged with capital murder in Master Cpl. Rogers's death.

UPDATE II: WAGT-HD is reporting that a vigil is set.  It will be at Eustis Park, beginning at 17:00 and will continue until sunset.  They are also reporting that homegoing ceremonies have also been finalized.  That will be on Wednesday at 13:00.

UPDATE III: WLTX-HD has an official statement of the Aiken Department of Public Safety's press conference.


"It is with profound sadness I must report to the Citizens of Aiken, another officer has been murdered in the line of duty in Aiken this morning.  Master Corporal Sandra E. Rogers, 48, of Aiken was gunned down responding to a call from a concerned citizen of suspicious activity at Eustis Park just after 7:30 a.m."

"Master Corporal Rogers was an invaluable street cop who exemplified the model of a Public Safety Officer.  Master Corporal Rogers was a highly skilled investigator and senior patrol officer on her shift. Please keep the Rogers family and Aiken Public Safety in your prayers as once again we deal with this tragic loss."