Wilton “Bob” McFaddin Jr. spent his life teaching children, serving his church, helping others. But in the end, that vibrant spark was snuffed out over nothing more than a jar of coins he kept for the laundry machine, authorities said.
Gregory Anthony Keitt, a man McFaddin befriended and took into his West Ashley apartment, is accused of punching the 66-year-old retired teacher several times in the face and head April 10 after the two men argued over a coin jar. The beating sent McFaddin to the hospital, where he died three days later, Charleston police said.
Keitt, 41, now faces a murder charge in the killing of his benefactor. He remained Monday night in the Charleston County jail, where he was being held without bail.
Born in Sumter, McFaddin came to Charleston several years ago to work for the Charleston County School District, first as a teacher and later as a speech therapist. He preferred to work in the district’s inner-city schools, where he felt he could do the most good, said his sister, Diane Turbeville of Columbia. He loved working with kids and had a genuine thirst for knowledge. He attained several degrees, including master’s degrees in piano and speech therapy, she said.
“Bob was a very talented, educated and intelligent man,” Turbeville said. “And he was always a giver. He always gave far and above what was required of him.”
McFaddin befriended Keitt several years back while pursuing his speech therapy degree at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, Turbeville said. Keitt worked as a custodian at the school, and the two formed a friendship that continued after McFaddin graduated.
After McFaddin had heart valve surgery a couple of years ago, he invited Keitt to stay at his Carriage Lane apartment in exchange for help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and other chores, Turbeville said. It proved a beneficial arrangement for both men until recently, she added.
McFaddin, who retired from the school district last year, became increasingly worried about Keitt’s behavior, Turbeville said. “He said Greg became unstable and violent. My brother was afraid of him.”
Keitt’s behavior had caused him trouble with police as well, with a criminal record dating back to 1986 and convictions for disorderly conduct, criminal domestic violence and driving under the influence, State Law Enforcement Division records show. In February, Charleston police arrested him on charges of felony cocaine possession with intent to distribute.
McFaddin wanted to get Keitt out of the apartment, but it was difficult, since Keitt’s name was on the lease. McFaddin finally decided to leave, and he was in the process of packing to move to Columbia, Turbeville said.
The situation erupted, however, on the night of April 10, when McFaddin accused Keitt of taking a jar of quarters he kept for laundry, police said. Keitt denied taking the coins and reportedly punched the older man several times, knocking him unconscious, police said.
After he came to a half-hour later, McFaddin called police and told them what happened. Officers noted a severe cut over his left eye and bruising to both eyes. His blood was all over the apartment. Keitt was gone, police said.
McFaddin was alert when transported to Medical University Hospital and at first seemed to be improving, Detective Sgt. Barry Goldstein said.
But he lost so much blood that his brain was traumatically impaired, and he slipped into unconsciousness early the next morning, Turbeville said. He never awoke and was on full life-support when he died, she said. His exact cause of death is still pending, authorities said.
His family considers it a blessing that doctors could harvest his organs to help others. His liver went to a needy patient in New York; his kidneys to a recipient in South Carolina. “My thought is that he died as he lived — being selfless,” Turbeville said.
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