Charleston County Detectives Seek Justice in 12-Year-Old Cold Case

Charleston County Detectives Seek Justice in 12-Year-Old Cold Case

CHARLESTON, S.C – Detectives in Charleston County are renewing their efforts in a decade-old case as they continue their search for answers in the mysterious disappearance of a local woman, Marjorie “Gayle” McCaffrey.

Suspicion Surrounds Robert McCaffrey

The 36-year-old was last seen at her Limestone Boulevard home on March 17, 2012. Her husband, Robert McCaffrey, reported having an argument with her before leaving to drive to the Upstate while their two children were asleep. The following day, he reported her as missing, claiming to have returned home to find a farewell letter.

Detective Barry Goldstein disclosed that the Investigators later deemed the letter to be counterfeit after the McCaffreys’ relatives stated that the profanity used in the letter was drastically out of character for Gayle.

The Conviction of Robert McCaffrey

Due to the discrepancy in Robert’s account of the situation, he was arrested on June 21, 2014, and charged with obstruction of justice. In 2019, he was sentenced to a ten-year prison term for this charge. According to records from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Robert was released early under supervised reentry on May 1 of the previous year.

The Declined Indictments

Additionally, Robert was further arrested and charged in March 2018. During a news conference, The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office announced their intention to charge Robert with Gayle’s murder. However, the grand jury declined to indict him in April of the same year.

This case is being investigated as a homicide by detectives. They strongly urge anyone with information to come forth and assist in the ongoing investigation.

Several modes of contact have been provided for anyone who can shed light on this puzzling case. Charleston County deputies can be reached at 843-202-1700, and Detective Barry Goldstein can be directly contacted at 843-554-2241. Additionally, anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.

Renewed Call for Justice

Despite the passage of twelve years, the persistence of the detectives working this case embodies the resilience of the Charleston community in their quest for justice. They aim to breathe new life into the case, hoping that renewed public interest will provide the final pieces to solve the jigsaw of Gayle’s disappearance.

The Law Enforcement agencies involved in this case maintain a plea for any individual with definitive knowledge of the case to come forward. They stress that no detail is insignificant and even the smallest piece of information could be critical to achieving a resolution in this complex cold case.