Price was convicted of murdering college student Carl Smalls at a Columbia nightclub in 2002.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court has vacated an order releasing a convicted murderer early from prison, siding with the state that he man never should have been set free.

The justices issued a 3-2 ruling Wednesday calling for Jeroid Price to be returned to prison to serve the rest of his sentence. The court did not elaborate on their decision but said they would issue a lengthier written opinion on their ruling in the near future. Justices John Kittredge, John Few, and Garrison Hill were in the majority, with Chief Justice John Beatty and George James Jr. in dissent.

The ruling came just hours after justices heard oral arguments from the state attorney general's office and Price's defense attorney regarding his release.

"We’re pleased the Court heard our request with such urgency and agreed that Jeroid Price’s release was unlawful and that he should be remanded back to the Department of Corrections immediately," South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said.

Price was convicted of murdering college student Carl Smalls at a Columbia nightclub in 2002. He was sentenced to a term of 35 years to life with no chance of parole until he served 30 years of the sentence. However, Price was released from prison in mid-March 2023 and the records in the case were sealed.

After the decision came to light earlier this month, however, Wilson and others raised objections as to how the early release could have happened. The State Supreme Court last week unsealed the order freeing Price.

Price's attorney said he'd asked the judge and the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's office for a reduced sentence for their client. Court documents provided by his attorneys documented incidents where Price either aided the Department of Corrections or potentially saved lives and where he alerted people of a prisoner escape.

There is a provision of state law that allows for early release for prisoners who provide substantial aid to prosecutors or law enforcement. However, Wilson said that doesn't trump state law which mandates a mandatory sentence of 30 years for anyone who gets a sentence of 30 years or more.

On Tuesday, Smalls' family joined state prosecutors, a host of lawmakers and law enforcement officials in a call for judicial reform in the wake of the case.

“Our main goal is we don’t want another family to go through this again," said the victim's father, Carl Smalls.

The Supreme Court's decision came down just hours after they heard oral arguments in this case with Price's attorney claiming his release from prison was legal.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court voted 3-2 in favor of voiding the early release of convicted killer Jeroid Price. Price had been released last month, 16 years before finishing his 35 year sentence.

The state Supreme Court's decision came down just hours after they heard oral arguments in this case with Price's attorney claiming his release from prison was legal while the Attorney General argued it wasn't.

“The State failed. The State failed in this process," said Attorney General Alan Wilson.

That was the message from Attorney General Alan Wilson in today's hearing in the case of State vs. Jeroid Price.

“When we walk away as we don’t think there should be an ability in the law for individuals like a judge, a defense attorney, and a solicitor or an attorney general, myself included, should never be able to consent or enter into a secret agreement that violates the law and denies people their constitutional rights," said Wilson.

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Price was serving time after being convicted in the 2002 killing of Carl Smalls at a Columbia bar. Representative Todd Rutherford, who serves as Price's attorney petitioned for his release. He said under statute 17-25-65, inmates can seek a reduced sentence if they provide substantial assistance.

He said that's what his client did and the law is designed to make inmates feel safe coming forward with information. Rutherford said sending Price back to prison would defeat the purpose of this statute by putting him in danger.

“Somebody who cooperated with the state of South Carolina can be placed simply in solitary confinement for the next 15 years is absolutely ridiculous and an affront to what the General Assembly tried to create when they created this statute," said Rep. Todd Rutherford.

Wilson said the judge was wrong to release Price early because South Carolina law mandates inmates serve at least 30 years for this type of conviction.

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News 19 spoke to the family of Carl Smalls after the court's decision.

“We are so happy. There’s no words to express. We’re still traveling back to Charleston and we just got the call. We we were really down and out because we just didn’t know how the judges were gonna go," said the victim's mother Lillie Smalls, "I think it's done now I think he'll go on and accept his sentence and we won't have to worry about him anymore."

News 19 has reached out to Rutherford for reaction to the decision. He told reporters after Wednesday's hearing that Price is not hiding from anyone. As for Price, the Supreme Court said it's now up to law enforcement to bring him back to prison to finish his sentence.

Columbia has been hot for a while now and not just because of the weather.

Often referred to as ‘famously hot’ because of the high summer temperatures every year, Columbia has also been hot lately in terms of attracting new residents. For instance, Columbia recently ranked second among all U.S. cities that gained the most new 18 to 24 year olds or Generation Z. The 2021 Census data, compiled in a report by Today’s Homeowner, shows that Columbia had a net gain of 11,640 Gen Z residents.

And more broadly, according to more recent, preliminary Census data, South Carolina was the third fastest-growing state in 2022.

However, more people drives demand for housing and Columbia has not been immune to this fact. Sales prices for homes in the Columbia area have skyrocketed in recent years.

The greater Columbia area has a median sales price of $250,000 for 2023 as of February — up 2% from $245,000 for the same period last year, South Carolina Realtors statistics show.

But fear not, for there are places in the Columbia area that offer more affordable housing.

Redfin, a residential real estate brokerage website, has used its latest March housing market data to compile a list of the most affordable places in the Columbia area to buy a home. Affordability is based on whether the city or unincorporated area’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Columbia and under a 25-minute drive from downtown Columbia.

Here are the five most affordable places in the Columbia area.

The unincorporated community of Red Bank is about a 25-minute drive from Columbia proper. It has a median home price of $239,750 and $155 average sale price per square foot.

“With 10,900 people living in this affordable town, Red Bank is a great option to consider when looking to stay close to Columbia without paying the premium for a home in the city,” Redfin states.

West Columbia’s listed median home price is $215,000 has an average sale price of $153 per square foot. With a population around 17,400, the city boats plenty of things to do and places to eat. Enjoy the riverfront views at West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater and then stop by the Riverbanks Botanical Garden. Also, downtown Columbia is only an 8-minute drive away.

Drive 15 minutes outside of Columbia to find Seven Oaks. The area has a population of just under 15,000 and several places to check out nearby, such as Seven Oaks Park and the Environmental Center at Saluda Shoals Park. Seven Oaks has a listed median home price of $191,000 and an average sales price of $130 per square foot.

Woodfield is a suburb of Columbia with a population of around 9,200 people. It’s median home price is $160,000 and it has an average sale price of $136 per square foot. And at just a 20 minute drive from Columbia, you can easily visit places like Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Or, if boating and fishing are your hobbies, just take another quick drive to Lake Murray.

With a median home price of $158,950 and an average sale price of $101 per square foot, Denstville tops Redfin’s list of most affordable places around Columbia. The Columbia suburb with more than 14,000 people is a 15-minute drive from the city. It’s also a short drive from Sesquicentennial State Park, where there’s plenty of hiking and camping options available.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina’s Supreme Court ordered a convicted murderer back to prison after he was released 16 years early.

The 3-2 decision from the South Carolina Supreme Court came down Wednesday, roughly two hours after a hearing about the release.

Justices John Kittredge, John Few, and D. Garrison Hill signed the order. Chief Justice Donald Beatty and Justice George James dissented.

Jeroid Price was sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing college football player Carl Smalls, Jr. in 2002.

In December 2022, Former Richland County Judge Casey Manning signed and sealed an order cutting Price’s sentence to 19 years.

Price was released in March 2023.

The order came under intense criticism this month over its secrecy, questions about court procedure, and arguments the law wasn’t followed.

Wilson had requested the S.C. Supreme Court void the order and issue a bench warrant for Price’s arrest.

The Supreme Court’s order doesn’t provide any legal arguments but vacates Manning’s order and instructs law enforcement to “immediately take custody” of Price.

WIS has reached out to defense attorney Todd Rutherford about Price’s whereabouts and any potential surrender.

Attorney General Alan Wilson released a statement after the ruling:

“We’re pleased the Court heard our request with such urgency and agreed that Jeroid Price’s release was unlawful and that he should be remanded back to the Department of Corrections immediately. Secret orders and backroom deals have no place in our justice system. I hope this sends a clear message to the people of South Carolina: our procedures matter and no one is above the law.”

WIS also reached out to a spokesperson with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. As of this writing, she said the SCDC did not have custody of Price but would announce when that changed.

Wilson represented the state in the hearing.

Justices grilled him on whether the court had the authority to rule on the case, citing 5th Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson’s role in getting the order approved.

Chief Justice Donald Beatty said the solicitor is a representative of the Attorney General’s office.

“[Gipson] consented to this matter, how is it you have the authority or the right to come in and complain about it?” Beatty asked.

Wilson argued the jurisdictional requirements for moving on the order were not met and asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

Gipson’s office has not returned a request for comment.

Rutherford argued the order was lawful and needed to help keep Price safe, as he provided information that led to the recapture of an escaped inmate.

“I think that honestly that, sending it back and sending Mr. Price back to the Department of Corrections is like ordering a death sentence on him,” he said.

WIS reached out to the Smalls family for comment.

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While the origins of pimento cheese started farther north than most expect, Columbia, South Carolina, claims to be the home of the first printed recipe of the piquant spread. According to Esoteric Columbia, the combination of mayonnaise, grated cheese, and chopped pimentos first appeared in a 1912 version of A Friend in Need printed by the Ladies of the Free Kindergarten Association of Columbia. Since then, the capital city has remained obsessed with the “pate of the South.” Restaurants and bars will put it on nearly anything on the menu. From burgers to biscuits, here are our top picks for pimento cheese in Columbia.

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What’s more Southern than pimento cheese on a biscuit? Not much. Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits serves its fluffy, flaky carbs with chipotle pimento cheese that adds just a hint of smokiness.

All meals at Southern cafe Spotted Salamander should start with the pimento cheese plate with toasted baguette and perhaps a few deviled eggs. There’s also the substantial fatty brisket sandwich with apple slaw, melty pimento cheese, and pickles.

Brown liquor bar Bourbon does its pimento cheese differently — the kitchen adds Creole spice to the mix and peppadew peppers. Pair with boudin balls and a boozy drink.

Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe does not serve a typical pimento cheese. The restaurant’s French Quarter pimento cheese contains butter, cream cheese, roasted red peppers, garlic, Gorgonzola, and Tabasco. Mr. Friendly’s serves this concoction on burgers, steaks, and fried green tomatoes.

Open since 1979, the Gourmet Shop has just about everything a food and wine lover wants. Cases and cases of cheeses, meats, desserts, and spreads include the store’s famous pimento cheese for home consumption. The cafe also serves a pimento platter with a choice of crusty baguette or warm pita bread.

Neighborhood restaurant Terra has been around since 2006, and always puts out exciting plates pulling from around the globe, like Korean short rib wraps or fried kibbeh, but if you’re looking for a Southern spread selection, go for the pimento cheeseburger pizza. Tip: Every Wednesday is Pizza and Pinot Night where a pie and a bottle cost just $32.

DiPrato’s pimento cheese is the gold standard in Columbia. In addition to pimiento cheese (best shoveled into the face on the crispy fried pita chips), the deli offers an extensive menu for lunch and brunch.

Rockaway Athletic Club did not invent the pimento cheeseburger (the original is credited to the former Dairy Bar), but it has damn near perfected it. The bar is a dive, and a bit difficult to find because of its lack of signage, but there’s plenty of cold beer and hot burgers. The cheesy mayo mixture melts into the hunk of beef, making for the ultimate decadent bite.

On a nice day, bring the kids and pets to the outdoor dining area at River Rat Brewery and have a beer and one of the many pimento cheese choices. There’s a pimento cheese appetizer, a chicken Philly with pimento cheese, a brisket Philly with pimento cheese, and a pimento cheese quesadilla.

What’s more Southern than pimento cheese on a biscuit? Not much. Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits serves its fluffy, flaky carbs with chipotle pimento cheese that adds just a hint of smokiness.

All meals at Southern cafe Spotted Salamander should start with the pimento cheese plate with toasted baguette and perhaps a few deviled eggs. There’s also the substantial fatty brisket sandwich with apple slaw, melty pimento cheese, and pickles.

Brown liquor bar Bourbon does its pimento cheese differently — the kitchen adds Creole spice to the mix and peppadew peppers. Pair with boudin balls and a boozy drink.

Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe does not serve a typical pimento cheese. The restaurant’s French Quarter pimento cheese contains butter, cream cheese, roasted red peppers, garlic, Gorgonzola, and Tabasco. Mr. Friendly’s serves this concoction on burgers, steaks, and fried green tomatoes.

Open since 1979, the Gourmet Shop has just about everything a food and wine lover wants. Cases and cases of cheeses, meats, desserts, and spreads include the store’s famous pimento cheese for home consumption. The cafe also serves a pimento platter with a choice of crusty baguette or warm pita bread.

Neighborhood restaurant Terra has been around since 2006, and always puts out exciting plates pulling from around the globe, like Korean short rib wraps or fried kibbeh, but if you’re looking for a Southern spread selection, go for the pimento cheeseburger pizza. Tip: Every Wednesday is Pizza and Pinot Night where a pie and a bottle cost just $32.

DiPrato’s pimento cheese is the gold standard in Columbia. In addition to pimiento cheese (best shoveled into the face on the crispy fried pita chips), the deli offers an extensive menu for lunch and brunch.

Rockaway Athletic Club did not invent the pimento cheeseburger (the original is credited to the former Dairy Bar), but it has damn near perfected it. The bar is a dive, and a bit difficult to find because of its lack of signage, but there’s plenty of cold beer and hot burgers. The cheesy mayo mixture melts into the hunk of beef, making for the ultimate decadent bite.

On a nice day, bring the kids and pets to the outdoor dining area at River Rat Brewery and have a beer and one of the many pimento cheese choices. There’s a pimento cheese appetizer, a chicken Philly with pimento cheese, a brisket Philly with pimento cheese, and a pimento cheese quesadilla.