SEE AMAZON.COM DEALS FOR TODAY
Edna Suttles, an 80-year-old woman from South Carolina, was found buried on a remote property in North Carolina. The investigation into her disappearance led to the arrest of Daniel Printz, a convicted kidnapper with a history of preying on elderly women. Printz was charged with Suttles’ murder and later confessed to killing three other women. He is now serving a life sentence without parole. The case is featured on the Oxygen series “Buried in the Backyard.” Joe Dziemianowicz reported
In a shocking and tragic turn of events, the body of Edna Suttles, a beloved 80-year-old mother and respected member of a tight-knit South Carolina community, was discovered buried on a remote wooded property in North Carolina on May 16, 2022. Despite being in stages of decomposition, her body remained fairly intact, according to Captain Jamie Keever of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department.
Edna Suttles, a single working mother, had raised three children in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and worked as a home care assistant at the age of 80. Concerns arose when she failed to show up for an appointment with a client, prompting a search for her well-being.
The investigation into her disappearance began on August 28, 2021, with no signs of forced entry or anything out of the ordinary discovered at her home. It was then that her son, Douglas Alexander, arrived and noted that her dog was found inside, which raised suspicion as she would have asked him to look after the pet.
As the case unfolded, investigators discovered that Edna Suttles was the first female bondsperson in South Carolina, leading them to consider if her involvement in this profession played a role in her disappearance. They focused on her home phone records, which unfortunately did not provide any promising leads.
However, a breakthrough came on September 3, 2021, when Suttles’ Jeep was located in the parking lot of a Best Western Hotel. Surveillance footage revealed that an unidentified white male had wiped down the surfaces of the vehicle, raising further concerns. Investigators then turned to security cameras at a nearby shopping center, where they observed the man getting into Suttles’ car and leaving with her.
The man in question was later identified as Daniel Printz, a resident of North Carolina. Printz, who had a history of kidnapping and was considered a violent criminal, became the primary suspect in Suttles’ disappearance. Further investigations into Printz’s activities revealed that he had profiles on internet dating sites, leading detectives to believe that he may have targeted older women.
Printz was eventually apprehended, and during the search of his property, items belonging to other missing elderly women were discovered, including Leigh Goodman and Nancy Rego. Subsequently, Printz was charged with Suttles’ murder and later admitted to killing Goodman, Rego, and Nancy’s mother, Dolores Sellers.
In June 2022, Printz pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering Edna Suttles, as well as the other women. He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The tragic case of Edna Suttles serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in unexpected places. Her community mourns the loss of a beloved mother and friend, while investigators continue to piece together the details of Printz’s horrifying crimes. To learn more about this case, tune in to “Buried in the Backyard” on Oxygen, airing Saturdays at 8/7c..
