Possible Suspect In Griffor Murder Named in Open Court

A West Ashley man currently in custody for an October 2011 home invasion was identified in open court Wednesday as a suspect in the death of 5-year-old Allison Griffor.

Ninth Circuit Chief Deputy Solicitor Bruce Durant singled out Philip Moses, 23, as a possible suspect in the Griffor case, the Post and Courier reports (subscription required). Moses is currently in custody on charges of burglary, armed robbery and possession of a knife/firearm during the commission of a violent crime in connection with an .

The hearing, during which Moses was identified as a suspect, was being held for Moses' . He pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and armed robbery in the Dogwood Road case Wednesday and was sentenced to 20 years.

Prosecutors don't believe Bennet was involved in Griffor's death, but had hoped to get information about Moses from him but, according to the Post and Courier, he did not cooperate.

The victim in the Dogwood Road home invasion did not report the break-in until after hearing about the death of Griffor just a few days later and only blocks away, and noticing similarities between the two crimes. Griffor was killed by a shotgun blast fired through the front door of her family's Pierpont Avenue apartment on Oct. 25.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office, which has been investigating the Griffor case from the beginning did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday afternoon, however the Post and Courier reports a spokesman for the office said it is still pursuing its investigation and the statement by the chief deputy solicitor has not changed anything in the case.