05/15/2026
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State Constable Robert L. Bailey
End of Watch: May 14, 2007
Robert Lee “Bob” Bailey was born on May 9, 1940, in Walterboro, to Perry S. and Marie Caddell Bailey.
Bob served as a Charleston Police Officer and later retired from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and Charleston County Public Works.
After retiring, Bailey received an advanced State Constable Commission in 2000, so he could continue to serve as a volunteer law enforcement officer, assisting some of the smaller jurisdictions. As an advanced Constable, Bailey worked with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the Moncks Corner Police Department on special events. For about five years, Constable Bailey had been working for free, patrolling the Town of Lincolnville, assisting the only salaried officer, Sgt. Richie Hill.
On Monday night, May 14th, 2007, State Constable Bob Bailey was patrolling Lincolnville while Sgt. Hill went back to the office. At around 10:28 pm, Constable Bailey cleared from a traffic stop on West Smith Street. Several minutes later, citizens reported hearing gunshots in the Greenwood Street area to the 911 dispatch center. Sgt. Richie Hill heard the gunshots from his office and radioed the dispatcher to check on Constable Bailey. He never responded to the radio call. County deputies and officers from the Summerville Police Department rushed to the area to search for the missing Constable. At 11:01, a Summerville officer located two handguns, Constable Bailey’s hat, several fired shell casings, and a large amount of blood in the road and in a yard on Greenwood Street. At 11:40, a Highway Patrol Trooper found the Lincolnville police cruiser on fire near the Faith Assembly of God on Farmington Road in Sangaree. Hundreds of officers from across the state responded and joined in the search for Constable Bailey. Helicopters and bloodhounds were brought in to assist in the search.
During the investigation, Walter Fayall was developed as a “person of interest.” Fayall lived near the location where the evidence had been found, and Constable Bailey disappeared.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 16th, Walter Fayall was arrested without incident in Charlotte on federal weapons charges. Later on Wednesday, some children found Constable Bailey’s badge, duty belt, magazine pouch, and handcuff case wrapped in burned rags over twenty miles from Lincolnville, near Harleyville.
On Thursday, May 17th, two of Fayall’s associates were arrested on charges unrelated to Constable Bailey’s disappearance. Jerome “Tootie” Washington was arrested in Williamsburg County while burning a stolen Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Inside the car, officers found a police baton. Brian Smalls was arrested on a probation violation and was lodged in the Berkeley County Jail. Both men had been with Fayall around the time of Constable Bailey’s disappearance.
Based on information received from Fayall’s girlfriend, Asia Prioleau, officers narrowed their search to an area off of I-26, near Cameron. On Saturday afternoon, Constable Bailey’s body was found in a shallow grave in Orangeburg County. Also on Saturday, Asia Prioleau was charged with “murder and accessory after the fact of murder.”
Funeral services for Robert L. Bailey, Sr., were conducted on Thursday, May 24th, at the Summerville Family Worship Center, and he was buried in Dorchester Memorial Gardens. Over 300 law enforcement officers attended the service for the man who dedicated his life to serving his community. A police bagpiper played Amazing Grace before the South Carolina Highway Patrol Honor Guard fired their 21-gun salute. State Constable Robert Bailey was survived by his fiancé, Jean Cumbee; his two daughters, Virginia Irene (Brown) and Teresa Ann (D’Amato); his son, Robert L. Bailey, Jr., and three grandchildren.
On October 29, 2007, Walter Fayall, III was charged with the murder of State Constable Robert Bailey, along with kidnapping, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, possession of a stolen firearm, and grand larceny. Based on these mitigating factors, Solicitor Scarlett Wilson was seeking the death penalty. Prioleau was charged with murder, accessory after the fact of murder, kidnapping, and grand larceny. Jerome Washington, Brian Smalls, and Asia O’Neill were charged with accessory after the fact of murder.
The facts of the case as relayed by Solicitor Wilson stated that State Constable Bailey had stopped Fayall on May 14, 2007, because he saw him swerve and suspected he had been drinking. Fayall slipped a gun into his waistband and while confronting the officer, shot him three or four times. Constable Bailey fell to his knees and repeatedly told Fayall that he didn’t have to do this. While Fayall dragged Constable Bailey into a yard, he dropped his gun. He then retrieved the Constable’s gun while demanding to know if the Constable had called for backup. Constable Bailey replied that he had not, as he continued to tell Fayall that he didn’t have to do this. Finally, Constable Bailey told Fayall that he loved him, as Fayall put the gun to the back of the Constable’s head and pulled the trigger. Fayall and Prioleau then put Constable Bailey’s body in the trunk of their car. Prioleau left the scene in that car, while Fayall drove away in the police car. Fayall then contacted Washington, and Smalls to help with the disposal of the evidence and the body.
On February 9, 2010, Walter Fayall, III, pleaded guilty to the murder of 67-year-old State Constable Robert Bailey, along with the other related charges, and was sentenced to “life without the possibility of parole.” Solicitor Wilson accepted the plea agreement with the approval of the Bailey family.
State Constable Robert L. Bailey, Sr., was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on May 7, 2008, never to be forgotten.
