Truck Computer Data Key to Murder Conviction
Greenwood, South Carolina – Data extracted from the “infotainment system” of a pickup truck played a crucial role in the conviction of a South Carolina man for the murder of his estranged wife’s boyfriend. Prosecutors successfully argued that the truck’s computer provided a detailed record of the events leading up to the fatal crash, revealing the driver’s intent.
On May 7, 2023, authorities discovered a wrecked BMW sedan at a deserted intersection. Davis McClendon, the car’s owner, was found dead nearby. The scene raised suspicion: McClendon’s body was some distance from the car, suggesting he was struck while outside.
McClendon’s girlfriend, Meredith Haynie, was present when authorities arrived. A murder case was built against Haynie’s soon-to-be-ex-husband, Bud Ackerman, who claimed the incident was an accident.
Haynie told “48 Hours” correspondent Anne Marie Green that she and McClendon had been on a date, starting at a restaurant. She suspected Ackerman when McClendon suddenly left a club, as Ackerman had disapproved of their relationship and had been compulsively calling her that night. Her phone records supported her account.
Detective Lt. Matthew Womack of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office explained that the text messages “showed the pattern of what she was explaining to the on-scene investigators, like him calling multiple times, him texting multiple times, things of that nature.”
Investigators soon found Ackerman, and his oil-leaking pickup truck. When they tried to question him, he referred them to his attorney. Video footage placed Ackerman near the several locations where Haynie and McClendon were that evening.
However, Ackerman’s truck provided the most compelling evidence. Womack explained that modern “infotainment systems” record vast amounts of data. The truck’s computer provided prosecutors with timestamped events, like when the vehicle connected with Wi-Fi systems.
“… In a 24-hour time period, it’s over 3,000 events …” Womack told Green. The system logged data like speed, acceleration, braking, gear shifts, phone connections, and door openings. The data established Ackerman’s route, confirming he drove past the relevant locations before the crash.
Experts determined Ackerman was driving approximately 25 mph seconds before the impact. At 1:11:33 a.m., the data showed a “wheel slip,” and seconds later, the truck stopped. Womack said Ackerman then got out of the truck, then got back in and shifted into drive before his phone disconnected from the vehicle’s computer. That’s when he got home, taking his phone with him.
Ackerman’s attorney, Jack Swerling, argued his client’s actions were an accident, claiming Ackerman tried to avoid hitting McClendon. The jury, however, found Ackerman guilty of murder after a seven-day trial.
