SUMTER COUNTY, SC — In a disturbing case of domestic violence and escalating personal conflict, a father and son from Sumter County have been arrested and charged in connection with a violent assault on a woman that left her with life-threatening injuries, including a gunshot wound and severe blunt-force trauma. Authorities say the victim was targeted during a confrontation on Old Pocalla Road late Saturday night, July 26, 2025.
Details of the Incident
Deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a private residence at approximately 11:12 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman lying in the front yard, bleeding from a gunshot wound and with visible injuries that appeared to be the result of a beating with a blunt object. A Sumter police officer who arrived shortly after began administering emergency medical aid to the victim.
The victim, despite her critical condition, identified her attacker as 65-year-old Willie James Sigler, who was reportedly still inside the residence at the time of the deputies’ arrival. Law enforcement quickly secured the area and issued repeated verbal commands for Sigler to surrender. He initially refused to exit the home. It wasn’t until a family member arrived and convinced him to cooperate that Sigler finally came out and was taken into custody without incident.
Sigler, who resides on Old Pocalla Road, was immediately charged with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime. He was booked into the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, where he is currently being held without bond.
Second Suspect Identified: The Son
During the investigation, deputies uncovered evidence that the suspect’s son, Gregory Maurice Sigler, 35, also played a significant role in the attack. Investigators believe Gregory Sigler used a baseball bat to inflict severe injuries on the woman before fleeing the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
On Wednesday, July 30, at approximately 4:43 p.m., deputies located Gregory Sigler during a traffic stop near Boulevard Road and Hauser Street. When deputies attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, Sigler reportedly resisted and assaulted the officers. Despite the resistance, he was subdued, arrested, and taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
Gregory Sigler, a resident of Flamingo Road in Sumter, now faces charges of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature and Resisting Arrest. Like his father, he is also being held without bond.
Ongoing Investigation
The names of the victim and any potential witnesses have not been released as the investigation remains active. Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the assault, but they confirmed it stemmed from a personal dispute. The victim remains hospitalized in critical condition as of this report.
The case has shocked the Sumter County community and underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and familial conflict. The Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward.
More updates will be posted at The Chronicle as the case develops.
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