Woman Received Homemade Soap as a Welcome Gift—What She Found Inside Shocked the Entire Town

In October 2013, Simone Garrett moved to Greenville, South Carolina, driven by a singular purpose: to find her missing aunt, Denise Garrett. Denise had vanished five months earlier, and the police had closed her case, dismissing it as a voluntary disappearance. Simone, however, knew better. She felt an unsettling certainty that something terrible had happened to her aunt. As she settled into her new home, she hoped to uncover the truth.

A Neighborly Gesture

On her third day in the quaint neighborhood, a knock at the door interrupted Simone’s unpacking. Standing on her porch was Margaret Hullbrook, a seemingly friendly neighbor in her fifties, with a warm smile and a wicker basket in hand. “Hello! I’m Margaret from three houses down,” she said cheerfully. “I thought I’d bring you a welcome gift to help you settle in.”

Simone accepted the basket with a polite smile, her curiosity piqued. Inside were four beautifully wrapped bars of homemade soap and a small bag of cookies. “This is lovely, thank you,” she replied, genuinely touched by the gesture. Margaret beamed, her enthusiasm infectious. “I make artisan products. It’s a little hobby of mine. We look out for each other here. You’ll fit right in!”

As Margaret waved goodbye, Simone felt a mixture of gratitude and unease. There was something about Margaret’s demeanor that felt overly cheerful, almost rehearsed. She brushed it off, attributing it to her own anxiety about the move.

The Soap’s Dark Secret

That night, after a long day of unpacking, Simone decided to use one of the soaps. The texture was rougher than commercial products, but she appreciated its handmade quality. As she lathered up, a strange scent filled the air—sweet yet metallic, lingering in a way that made her uneasy. She pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the comforting warmth of the shower.

A week later, while using the same bar of soap, Simone felt something hard embedded within the lather. Confused, she pulled the soap closer to examine it. A finger—a human finger—was trapped inside, still adorned with a ring. Panic surged through her as she recognized the ring immediately. It belonged to her aunt Denise.

Simone’s heart raced as she stumbled back, wrapping a towel around herself. She quickly retrieved her phone and scrolled through photos from last Christmas, her heart pounding as she found the image of Denise, holding up her wine glass, the same ring glinting on her finger. The realization hit her like a freight train: Margaret had processed her aunt’s remains and given them to her as a welcome gift.

The Investigation Begins

Simone’s mind raced as she fought to process the horror of her discovery. She knew she had to act quickly. As a lawyer, she understood the importance of preserving evidence. She photographed the soap, the finger, and the ring from multiple angles, timestamping everything before carefully placing the items in a sealed plastic bag. Then, she called 911.

Detective Travis Coleman and his partner, Detective Andrea Mills, arrived thirty minutes later. Simone met them at the door, still shaking but determined to present the facts clearly. She led them to the bathroom, showing them the evidence and explaining how she had come to find it.

The detectives listened intently as she recounted her aunt’s disappearance and her suspicions about Margaret. They exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by the gravity of the situation. “We need to investigate this woman,” Travis said firmly. “We need to find out what she knows.”

Confronting the Neighbor

The detectives wasted no time. They drove to Margaret’s home, with Simone insisting on accompanying them. As they approached the Blue House, Simone’s heart raced. What would they uncover? What would Margaret say?

Travis knocked on the door, and Margaret answered, seemingly unfazed by the presence of the police. “Oh, officers! Is something wrong?” she asked, her smile unwavering. “Ma’am, we need to ask you some questions about the soap you make,” Travis stated, his tone serious.

Margaret welcomed them into her home, leading them to her garage where she made her soap. The setup was impressive—tables lined with jars of oils, molds, and racks of curing soap. She explained her process with pride, but the detectives remained focused, searching for anything that might connect her to the gruesome discovery.

As they examined her supplies, Simone watched Margaret closely. The calm demeanor, the lack of fear—it sent chills down her spine. How could someone so seemingly normal be capable of such horror?

The Arrest

After gathering evidence, the detectives arrested Margaret that afternoon. She appeared surprised but not frightened, walking calmly to the police car. Simone watched from a distance, feeling a mix of relief and dread. Would justice be served?

The interrogation began, and Margaret’s demeanor shifted. When confronted with the evidence, she claimed she was merely protecting her children from perceived threats. Her delusions painted a horrifying picture—she believed she was cleansing the community, using the remains of those she deemed dangerous to create protective rituals.

Simone stood in the observation room, her heart racing as she listened to Margaret’s chilling justifications. The woman who had given her a welcome gift had taken her aunt’s life, and now she was rationalizing her actions as a twisted form of protection.

The Trial

Margaret’s trial began in December 2013, and the courtroom was filled with families of the victims, community members, and media. The prosecution presented a strong case, detailing the evidence that linked Margaret to the murders of nine women, including Simone’s aunt Denise. The defense argued that Margaret suffered from a delusional disorder, but the evidence painted a different picture—one of premeditated murder.

Simone took the stand, recounting her experience and the horror of discovering her aunt’s remains in the soap. Her testimony was powerful, a testament to the lives stolen by Margaret’s actions. Each family member spoke, sharing their grief and the impact of their loved ones’ disappearances.

After three days of deliberation, the jury found Margaret guilty of first-degree murder. The courtroom erupted in tears of relief and anger. Justice had been served, but the scars of the past remained.

A Legacy of Change

In the aftermath of the trial, Simone dedicated herself to advocating for systemic change. She opened a legal aid practice focused on missing persons cases, helping families navigate the often-overlooked investigations. She worked tirelessly to ensure that no family would have to endure the same pain her family had faced.

The community rallied around the families of the nine victims, forming a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about missing persons, particularly women of color. They pushed for better investigation protocols, demanding thorough investigations for every missing person, regardless of race or background.

Three years after the discovery of the finger in the soap, the city of Greenville dedicated a memorial park to honor the nine women whose lives had been taken too soon. The Garden of Nine stood as a testament to their memory, a place of healing and reflection for the families and the community.

Simone stood at the memorial, surrounded by the families of the victims. Together, they honored the lives lost, vowing to continue the fight for justice and change. They were no longer just victims; they were advocates, warriors, united in their mission to ensure that the names of their loved ones would never be forgotten.

As the sun set over the garden, casting a warm glow on the monuments, Simone felt a sense of peace. They had turned tragedy into advocacy, horror into hope. The legacy of the nine women would live on, not just in the memories of their families but in the changes they had fought for—a promise that their lives mattered and that their deaths would not be in vain.