Tommy Mack will never have the opportunity to hurt another woman, that's what
the jury verdict Thursday tried to guarantee.
Mack, 46, a repeat offender, was sentenced to life in prison without parole
in the case of kidnapping victim Beth Ferguson. The 41-year-old Goose Creek
resident was viciously attacked April 10, 2007, when she stopped at Carolina
Florist on Ashley Phosphate Road to buy her son a corsage for his prom.
After attack at florist shop, victim becomes 'the victor' by getting a permit to
carry- 12/2/2007
Victim sues flower shop after attack- 5/2/2007
Suspect's bail set at $3 million- 4/14/2007
Suspect in kidnapping arrested in N. Charleston- 4/13/2007
Customer attacked at store- 4/12/2007
Mack was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault and battery with
intent to kill. His violent criminal history of attacking, kidnapping and raping
women caused Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson to file a life without
parole notice before the trial this week, Wilson said. The notice made the
sentence mandatory.
Mack previously was convicted of kidnapping a woman from North Charleston in
1994 and raping her. He also was convicted of attacking women in 1979 and 1984.
"There's no rehabilitation for him," Wilson said. "He will die in prison."
Witnesses testified that Mack worked at the flower shop and lived on the
second floor. Carolina Florist owner Deborah Mack told The Post and Courier on
Thursday that Tommy Mack is her ex-husband and that they were co-owners of the
business last April.
Ferguson identified Tommy Mack as her assailant, and testimony showed that he
was at the shop by himself shortly before Ferguson arrived. His fingerprints
were on a cold bottle of beer, just feet from where Ferguson was bound, gagged
and locked in a closet on the second floor, police testified. Ferguson freed
herself while Tommy Mack was gone and broke through a front window of the shop
to freedom. She was badly beaten, and her shirt was cut from her body.
After the trial, Ferguson said she feels a sense of closure. She spent months
in counseling after the ordeal.
"It has changed my whole life and how I do things," she said.
Ferguson took weapons classes and armed herself with a gun. She said she
tries never to be alone, especially when she goes shopping.
Forgiveness? She said she has tried to give that many times and quickly taken
it back. Spiritual healing is still a process, she said.
Ferguson has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the Macks.
Reach
Nadine Parks
at 937-5573 or
nparks@postandcourier.com.
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2007 the Evening Post Publishing Co.
