The Murder of Clarissa Winchester & Baby Grayson Winchester
Clarrissa Winchester, who was 7-months pregnant and her premature baby, Grayson Kane Winchester, was found deceased in a home in Greenville County, South Carolina. Her boyfriend, Tyler Wilkins, has been arrested for kidnapping and murdering Clarrissa. Wilkins has also been interviewed in connection with the 2020 disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, Jorden Nebling.
The Deaths of Clarrissa Winchester and Her Newborn
On November 9, 2022, around 8:34 p.m. law enforcement responded to a possible missing persons call. The person reported missing was Clarrissa Winchester, 22, and was last known to be at her boyfriend’s aunt and uncle’s house, in the 200 block of Saw Mill Road, Greenville County, South Carolina.
When Greenville County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the address, they discovered Clarrissa Winchester deceased in a bedroom, along with her newborn son, Grayson. The Greenville County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide and determined her cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and neck. Clarissa was 7-months pregnant and the time and gave birth while being held against her will. Investigators and the medical examiner could not determine if Grayson’s premature birth was due to the brutal attack against his mother or if he was stillborn.
Arrests
Law enforcement arrested Tyler Wilkins, 21, on November 9, 2022, in connection with the death of Clarrissa Winchester. Investigators learned he had kidnapped Clarrissa and was holding her against her will at the time that she and her son had died. The residence belonged to Michael and Melissa Burnett, the aunt and uncle of Wilkins.
Detectives learned Michael Burnett, 43, and Melissa Burnett. 49, were at the residence during the time of the murder. They had listened to Clarrissa beg for her life, while she was beaten for the two hours leading to her death. Neither tried to stop the attack or call for help. They were both arrested on November 26, 2022, and each charged with a misdemeanor of a felony (or neglect of reporting a crime) in the death of Clarrissa Winchester. A judge granted them $20,000 each, which they posted and were released.
Previous Violent Behavior of Tyler Wilkins
This was not the first time that Wilkins had encountered law enforcement. In October 2021, police served a search warrant on Wilkins. During the search, police found marijuana and a 12-gauge shotgun in his bedroom. The search warrant was in connection with a missing person, who was presumed to be Jorden Shyann Nebling. Nebling had been reported missing in October 2020. Her last known movement was a phone call she made to Wilkins, her ex-boyfriend. Her car had broken down in Travelers Rest, SC, where Wilkins had been living; she called him for help. No one has seen or heard Nebling since then. Wilkins told investigators that he had picked up Nebling and brought her back to his residence. They had gotten into an argument, and she had left his residence on foot. He stated he did not know her whereabouts. Investigators searched his property extensively, including digging up a concrete pad that Wilkins had recently installed. No evidence regarding Nebling was ever discovered. In October 2021, prosecutors charged Wilkins with drug possession/manufacturing and receiving stolen goods. He was granted bond and released.
Violence Towards Clarissa
It was also not the first time that Wilkins committed violent acts toward Winchester. On December 3, 2021, it was reported that Wilkins fired shots toward Winchester and her father, just narrowly missing the pair. Officers stated that at the time of his arrest, Wilkins spat on the officer and stated, “I’ll put a bullet in your head.” Wilkins was formally charged with two counts of attempted murder, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, threatening a law enforcement, bodily fluids toward police (spitting) and resisting arrest.
After his arrest, he was granted bail in January 2022 with special conditions of a restriction on firearm possession, and a no contact order with Clarrissa Winchester. He was also required to wear an ankle monitor. He was arrested in June 2022 for pointing a firearm at a person and released.
The Aftermath
Michael and Melinda Winchester started a GoFundMe account to assist with the burials of Clarrissa and Grayson. You can find that page here.
The investigation into the death of Clarrissa and Grayson Winchester remains open and ongoing. 5 will add additional charges against Tyler Wilkins, following further investigation by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.