Father and son charged with second-degree murder

A father and his 16-year-old son have both been charged with second-degree murder in the baseball bat beating that killed a Brunswick County man earlier this month.

Ryan Austin Harrelson

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Courtesy of BCSO

Nikolas Wayne Smith

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Boyd Franklin Harrelson

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On Thursday, Jan. 17, Nikolas Wayne Smith, 21, of 6543 Farm Meadows Drive, Leland, and Ryan Austin Harrelson, 16, of Winnabow, were arrested by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

Both were charged with second-degree murder in the New Year’s Day baseball beating that killed 26-year-old Hartford Talmage Seller III on Farm Meadows Drive in Leland.

Smith had previously been arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon on Jan. 3 for his role in the murder.

Ryan Harrelson is the son of 43-year-old Boyd Franklin Harrelson Jr.

Boyd Harrelson Jr. of 6543 Farm Meadows Drive, Leland, was arrested Thursday, Jan. 3, and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

On Monday, Jan. 7, Boyd Harrelson Jr. was charged with second-degree murder.

Another man who also lives on Farm Meadows Drive was arrested on Jan. 4.

William Joseph Connolly, 52, of 6579 Farm Meadows Drive, Leland, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and failure to appear on a misdemeanor.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for a fight in progress with baseball bats at 6524 Farm Meadows Road, Leland, at 10:38 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1.

“Deputies were dispatched, and upon arrival they found Hartford Talmage Sellers III unresponsive and laying in the driveway at 6524 Farm Meadow Road,” said Sgt. Del Routh, BCSO spokesman.

Sellers died on Friday, Jan. 4, as a result of injuries sustained during the beating on Jan. 1.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Lt. Donna Simpson at 880-4952 or 253-2777.