Career criminal gets 27 years for burglarizing elderly couple’s home
August 24, 2026
On Aug. 20, a Kershaw County jury convicted Thomas Emory Vella Jr. of burglary in the first-degree on a charge stemming from a Sept. 29, 2023, home invasion in Camden.
The Honorable T.W. McGee sentenced Vella to 27 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Home video surveillance showed shirtless Vella arrive at the elderly victims’ home shortly after 1 a.m. and immediately attempt to enter through the couple’s back door while they slept inside.
Witnesses testified that another door outside the camera’s view was unlocked and that items were missing from inside the home, indicating that Vella succeeded in his attempt to enter.
An investigation by the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) linked tattoos visible on Vella’s exposed torso to him, resulting in his arrest in Charleston.
When imposing his sentence, Judge McGee noted Vella’s significant criminal record, including prior robbery, assault, and sex offenses in North Carolina, as well as the danger he poses to the community.
Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office Assistant Solicitor Michael Bradbury prosecuted the case. KCSO Lt. Miles Taylor led the investigation.