Judge gives Sherry Engel 30 years for her role in 2008 Carolina Forest murder

Carolina Forest, SC - From The Carolina Forest Chronicle

By Michael Smith, Editor

Sherry Engel will spend at least the next 25 ½ years in prison.

Circuit Court Judge Larry Hyman sentenced Engel, 54, to 30 years in prison after she pled guilty to accessory before the fact of voluntary manslaughter. She must serve at least 85 percent of her sentence before she's eligible for parole.

"I hope you serve every day of that sentence," Hyman said.

Engel had been charged with murder, accessory before the fact of murder and accessory after the fact of murder.

The charges stem from the April 22, 2008 strangulation death of her husband Fred Engel. Sherry Engel's lover, Timmy Rogers, was convicted of murder in October 2010 and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

In Wednesday's proceedings, Sherry Engel gave detailed testimony that Rogers used threats and intimidation to coerce her into helping him kill her husband. She also said Rogers repeatedly abused her physically and sexually.

Sherry Engel testified that one time, Rogers stripped her naked, tied her to a tree and duct taped her mouth. She said he left her there overnight before returning to retrieve her at noon the next day.

"He came back and said [expletive], have you learned your lesson now?" Engel testified.

Fred Engel's brother Rob Engel said he didn't believe one word of Sherry Engel's testimony.

Rob Engel reminded the court that during the trial, witnesses testified that Sherry Engel was blowing kisses to Rogers during Fred Engel's funeral.

"When I was last here, I was sad. I'm angry now," Rob Engel said. "This is not about her being sorry. She is responsible for all of this. In my opinion, she is the one who took the life of my brother."