Most people don’t realize the story of America’s first “Bonnie and Clyde” originates right here in this creepy story from South Carolina, with legendary murders committed by a husband and wife team in the early 1800s.

The Palmetto State has some history that includes some downright evil wrongdoing. Acts of murder and mayhem that were carried about in such a way that both they and the people committing them are now infamous. This evil-doing team is certainly at or near the top of the list. In this article we take a look at both the couple and the spot where they committed the murders.

The pair - and their ghosts - notoriously haunt the old city jail in Charleston where they lived for a year prior to execution.
Yelp/Timothy A
But it's the wife who gets the most publicity from their acts of evil.
Find A Grave/Mike Bell
That's because she has a dark and evil place in history, and is widely regarded as the first female serial killer in the country.
Flickr/Jaime Pérez
Based on some accounts of their suspected deeds, Lavinia Fisher and husband John make the "modern day Bonnie and Clyde" duo look like Ken and Barbie out for a little rambunctious drive in their fancy plastic car.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Call number HABS SC,10-CHAR,348--89
Who knows exactly how long their horrifying rampage went on before discovery. And who knows exactly how many innocent people fell victim to their heinous acts. And really...since none of us was present, who knows if they even did these unspeakable things?

Most South Carolinians have at least heard of Lavinia and John Fisher - but most don't know the hideous details - or the location - of their (alleged) crimes.

Lavinia and John ran the Six Mile House, a wayward travelers inn located six miles outside of Charleston.
Flickr/peppergrasss
This map was created in 1825 by Robert Mills and is available from the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division/Robert Mills, Charles Blacker Vignoles, Henry Ravenel /LOC call number G3913.C3 1820 .M5

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We've zoomed into a point on Mills' map that pointedly labels the spot of the Six Mile House and places a symbol on the location.
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division/Robert Mills, Charles Blacker Vignoles, Henry Ravenel /LOC call number G3913.C3 1820 .M5
It was located at or very near the site of the old Charleston Naval Hospital on Highway 52 in North Charleston.
Google Maps [streetview]
According to a multitude of sources that include newspapers from that era, as well as countless legendary stories retold from then until now, travelers would stop at the Six Mile House for the night and Lavinia would scope out those flush with money and goods ...
Flickr/THOR
..and she'd invite them to tea. The tea was spiked with Oleander to make them pass out.
Flickr/Marcus Jaschke
Then, husband John would swoop in with his ax and chop them up into pieces.
Flickr/The Joneses
Flickr/Adam Bindslev
According to most accounts, the couple buried their victims under the Six Mile House in what is now North Charleston.
Flickr/Travis
This gruesome pair, predecessors to Bonnie and Clyde, left their mark on both what is now North Charleston - at the site of the murders - and the Old City Jail in Charleston.

Were you a little curious about the location of the Six Mile House where Lavinia Fisher lived and became known as the first female serial killer in the country?

For another place in South Carolina where an act of evil occurred, read this article about John D. Long Lake.

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Creepy Story From South Carolina

Leah | September 25, 2020

What are the most haunted places in South Carolina?

There are many places that are notorious in South Carolina history for being supposedly haunted. One spot that is often considered the most haunted is Oakwood Cemetery in Spartanburg, South Carolina, also known as Hell's Gate. Many people report seeing weird things here and hearing the ghostly sounds of children's laughter. It is not recommended to visit after dark. Another haunted place is the site of the Greenville Tuberculosis Hospital. Though the building is gone, its foundation and some remnants can be seen in Herdlotz Park, which was built over the former grounds of this place.

What are the most popular ghost stories in South Carolina?

There are many scary stories from South Carolina that'll send chills down your spine. The story of Crybaby Bridge, for example, is a popular one many have heard of. This is an actual bridge that exists in Anderson, South Carolina. It is said that a mother threw her unwanted baby over the bridge and deeply regretted it. If you visit the bridge at night, you might see the ghost of the mother looking for her child and hear the wails of a baby cry. Spooky, right? If you love ghost stories, Charleston has many, too, and you can find them by clicking here.

What are the creepiest places in South Carolina?

From being the hideouts of notorious South Carolina criminals to the eerie ruins of ghost towns long since abandoned, there are quite a few places throughout the state that only the brave will visit. We even put together a Creepy South Carolina Road Trip that'll take you to some of them, if you're feeling up for it. This route will take you to haunted cemeteries to spots where ghosty lights are said to be seen. Some of these spots are only creepy if you know the story behind them, while others just look spooky right from the get-go.

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Old Charleston Jail, 21 Magazine St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA