ALLENDALE, SC (Dec. 2, 2025) – A 62-year-old Allendale man who once served time for the death of his first wife will return to prison for the murder of a second woman.
Roger Brabham Sr. of Allendale pleaded guilty Monday to the shooting death of his former girlfriend, 58-year-old Patricia Albany. Brabham’s trial was set to start Monday morning at the Allendale County Courthouse, but he entered a guilty plea before jury selection. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Brabham also pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and possession of a firearm by a violent felon. He received five years for each of those gun charges. All charges are to be served concurrently.
“This is effectively a life sentence for a habitually violent offender,” said Hunter Swanson of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, who prosecuted the case. “This verdict also serves as notice to abusers that they will be held accountable.”
Two days before Christmas 2023, law enforcement were called to a home on Razor Road in Allendale. Witnesses inside the house said Brabham and Albany were arguing when Brabham threw beer at her, then retrieved a gun from his car. When he returned, he shot Albany while she was seated in a chair.
Swanson is the leader of the Solicitor’s Office Special Victims Unit, which is part of the 14th Circuit Victims Services Center. There, community partners provide critical services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and other crimes against vulnerable people.
VSC Director Michelle Fraser said the holiday season is supposed to be full of celebrations, but it can also be a period of increased tension and stress, which ultimately leads to increased violence.
The stress from holiday shopping, finances, planning, travel, and extended family dynamics may destabilize an already tenuous situation and make an abusive partner more likely to resort to violence, Fraser notes.
“But help is available to anyone who needs it, even if they are not participating in the investigation or prosecution of a crime,” she said. The VSC serves Allendale, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties.
Several risk factors have been associated with increased risk of homicides of women and men in violent relationships. To learn more about those specific signs, go to dangerassessment.org.
To learn more about the VSC and its community partners and programs, call 843-790-6220, email [email protected] or visit https://scsolicitor14.org/victim-services-center/.
