Windsor gets 15 years on kidnapping charge

By Cindy Landrum  

JANUARY 15, 2010 9:03 a.m. (0)

Kristen Wiggs has faced bill collectors on a regular basis since the business her husband started right after college collapsed.

The couple has hung on financially – but barely.

But while they’ve struggled financially over the past two years, neither sought to solve their financial problems like Bruce Windsor did last February – by walking into a bank and holding two bank employees hostage for more than 90 terrifying minutes. One of the hostages was Wiggs’ mother-in-law, Lorraine Wiggs.

“Bruce Windsor’s actions sentenced my mother-in-law and best friend to a lifetime of anxiety and fear. He sentenced his own family to a life of pain,” said Kristen Wiggs. “As a result, Bruce Windsor deserves the same.”

On Thursday afternoon, Windsor pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnapping stemming from the robbery. Judge Robin T. Stillwell handed Windsor a 22-year prison sentence, but suspended it to 15 years in prison and five years probation.

“Almost all of your life you’ve been an exemplary citizen,” Stillwell told Windsor before sentencing. “But in this case, I’m not charged with judging character but with assessing and judging conduct. Indeed, this was a despicable act.”

Windsor already received a 10 year, 10 month sentence in federal court for the bank robbery.

He will serve his federal sentence first and then complete whatever state sentence he has left, said Thirteenth Circuit Assistant Solicitor Cheryl Aaron.

Windsor walked into the Greenville First Bank wearing a “tediously prepared” putty mask and handed teller Melinda Whitmire a three-page, single-spaced note telling her to read it, Aaron said.

The note said the bank was surrounded by men with AK-47s and listed bank employees by name, saying they knew addresses, spouses, children and schedules.

“No stupid hero mistakes,” the note read. “If everyone stays calm, everybody lives.”

When Whitmire became to overcome to continue reading the note, Windsor demanded she get another employee.

“That day will haunt me for the rest of my life,” said Whitmire, who said she takes a deep breath every time the door opens at the bank now.

Lorraine Wiggs told Stillwell she was convinced she was going to die that day.

“I look forward to the day when I don’t flinch when someone reaches into their pocket,” she said. “I feel he caused me to serve a sentence for something I had no control over.”

Larry Wiggs, Lorraine Wiggs’ husband, said Windsor robbed his wife of her normal life.

Glaring at Windsor, he said with anger, “I will never forgive you for the rest of my life.”

Then it was Windsor’s turn.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry to those in the bank. I’m sorry to my family. I’m sorry to the community and I’m sorry to all those who suffered because of my actions,” he said. “I wish I could undo it, but I can’t. I realize it will forever be a part of our lives. I continue to pray for healing.”

To his supporters, who filled three-fourths of the largest courtroom in the Greenville County Courthouse, he said, “It would have made sense if you had abandoned me. You’re love and support has been an amazing grace.”

And to the bank tellers he held hostage, Windsor said simply, “I’m sorry Melinda and Lorraine.”

Dr. David Price, who diagnosed Windsor with bipolar disorder, said Windsor exhibited signs of his illness well before the bank robbery.

As a soccer coach, Windsor would make detailed analysis of practice and plan more than normal coaches. At times, he wouldn’t sleep. And his overspending that caused two businesses to go under was a result of his bipolar disorder as well, Price said.

“He planned to do the robbery the day before and put it off,” he said.

Windsor’s wife, Heather, begged the judge and the bank employees to “look past that scary day.”

“I thank God he didn’t allow Bruce to die that day,” she said. “I thank God no one was hurt. I hope one day, good will come out of it.”

To Windsor, she said, “I’m here to death do us part.”

But the situation has been devastating for her four children, she said.

“It’s hard to be out in public and see families and see what we have lost,” she said.

Aaron said Windsor thought he’d get “$100,000, maybe a million” and he’d be able to take care of his financial problems. Windsor told authorities he planned to pay the bank back anonymously.

But when things went wrong, Windsor called his wife and told her he thought he was going to die.

He asked everyone to get on their knees and pray, Aaron said.

Shortly afterward, he handed Whitmire the gun and allowed the two women to walk out of the bank.

Before sentencing, Stillwell told the hostages not to look at his sentence as closure or vindication.

“The only way you’ll see piece of mind or closure is through you,” he said.