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BLYTHEWOOD – Part of McNulty Road was blocked off Thursday morning in front of the Richland County Sheriff’s Region Six headquarters in downtown Blythewood as approximately 50 Richland County Sheriff’s investigators arrived at Station Six. Several Sheriff’s deputies’ vehicles were pulling trailers carrying 4-wheelers.

The Voice spoke with Capt. Gavin Walmsley at Station Six who said deputies were conducting a ground search in the area concerning the woman who went missing near Blythewood last week.

“We do not have an investigative update at this time,” the Sheriff’s Public Information Office said in response to an email inquiry from The Voice. “We can confirm RCSD conducted a ground search this morning of the area Ms. Heinz’s vehicle was found.”

Later in the afternoon, a public information officer contacted The Voice to say there is no new information in the case.

Heinz has been missing since Friday, Jan. 30, when her supervisor notified RCSD that she had not shown up for work at the Shell gas station on SC-200 in Winnsboro. She was last seen on Wednesday around 10 p,m. at the same gas station. Her vehicle, a 2010 Honda CRV was found abandoned on the shoulder of the southbound lane of I-77 approximately two miles north of Blythewood.

A heavily redacted incident report stated her vehicle had “run out of gas and had cut off.” The report stated that Heinz’s personal belongings were found inside the abandoned vehicle.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

BLYTHEWOOD – Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies discovered firearms and a large bag containing green plant material consistent with marijuana in a Toyota Camry in Blythewood, according to an RCSD report. The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16.

The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office had been looking for the vehicle when it was stopped in Blythewood by Richland County deputies who first noticed it in the area of I-77 S near the 29 mile marker just outside of Blythewood, according to the report.

Richland County deputies followed the Camry as it exited I-77 onto Blythewood Road and into the Cobblestone Park entrance. Unable to enter the gated community, the vehicle attempted to exit the neighborhood back onto Blythewood Road, but was stopped by the Richland County deputies in the Cobblestone exit.

The driver and an occupant of the Camry were detained without incident as several RCSD backup vehicles arrived on scene.

Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputies also arrived on scene and assumed custody of the vehicle, all evidence, and both subjects. The Camry, evidence, and detainees were transported back to Fairfield County by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.

BLAIR — Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill has confirmed the death of Mr. Robert Wright, a resident of Dave Cole Road in the Dawkins community of Blair. According to official reports, Wright was fishing from the bank of the lake when he entered the water for reasons that remain unknown.

According to the coroner’s office, they responded to the scene with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, SCDNR, and Fairfield County Rescue squad after a boater found a person in the water. Coroner’s office staff confirmed that the individual was deceased and recovery efforts were performed. There were no signs of foul play and that has been ruled out, the report said.

An autopsy has been scheduled with Newberry Pathology to determine the cause of death. This incident remains an active investigation by Fairfield County Coroner’s Office.

WINNSBORO – On Jan. 1, 2026, at approximately 1:42 p.m., Winnsboro Department of Public Safety officers responded to reports of gunshots and a possible victim in the 700 block of Hudson Street in the Town of Winnsboro.

Upon arrival, officers located four victims, ages 14 to 16. One victim sustained a minor injury to the left index finger.

During the investigation, officers identified a possible suspect and vehicle. Two victims positively identified the suspect.

 Investigators obtained arrest and search warrants for the suspect’s residence. The suspect was arrested on Jan. 6, 2026, and charged as an adult with four counts of Attempted Murder, four counts of Pointing and Presenting a Firearm, Possession of a Weapon by a Minor, Breach of Peace of a High and Aggravated Nature, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime. 

The juvenile suspect is being held at the Fairfield County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

RIDGEWAY – A group of Buddhist Monks and their Peace Dog Aloka wrapped up their Columbia appearance and prepared to head north up Highway 21 through Blythewood and then to Ridgeway, where they would overnight before trekking on to Great Falls, following Hwy 21 out of the state to Charlotte.

“We only had about 36 hours to get ready for their visit,” Fairfield County Administrator Vic Carpenter said during Monday night’s County Council meeting.

Getting ready for the Monks, Aloka, and the crowds they would bring to the tiny town of Ridgeway seemed an insurmountable task. But, according to Carpenter, Ridgeway and the county rose to the occasion.

“Our Sheriff’s Office did an amazing job last night,” Carpenter said. “Our Parks and Rec team made this happen with very short notice. Two days before they came, we didn’t know they’d even come into our county. Our building maintenance team was out there helping. Our EMS folks were there. Our fire guys. It was a full effort. We had probably 3,000 people in the building and outside.”

When the Monks came into sight in the distance, the excitement at the Rec Center swelled. As the Walk for Peace turned in to the Rec Center parking lot at about 6:30 p.m., and on into the Rec Center, the Monks gave and received flowers and smiles along the way. Inside, the people sat on the gym floor listening to a peace sermon from the Monks’ leader, Bhikkhu Pannakara, and interacted with Aloka as he sometimes roamed the floor.

The next morning, the Monks rose early and set off through downtown Ridgeway, quietly past the shops and the Tin Man water tower, and on to Great Falls.

For the little town of Ridgeway, the Monks’ visit was a day to remember. And there are plenty of photos left behind to keep the memories flickering for a long time.

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BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Chamber of Commerce members heard updates from town, county, and state leaders during a recent panel discussion featuring SC House Rep. Kambrell Garvin, Blythewood Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Fripp, and Richland County Councilman Derrek Pugh. Each official talked about some of the accomplishments made by their respective governments and outlined priorities moving forward as growth continues to dominate Blythewood and the surrounding area.

SC House Rep. Kambrell Garvin

Garvin spoke about legislative accomplishments from the most recent session of the General Assembly. Among those were the Hands-Free Driving Act, which prohibits texting while driving in an effort to improve road safety. He also highlighted insurance reform legislation aimed at reducing liability costs for restaurants and businesses that serve alcohol.

“The state continues to invest in education, including new laws supporting teachers through permanent certification, improved contract protections, and expanded leave options,” Garvin said. He also noted legislation that expands access to free breakfast and lunch for students living in poverty. In addition, Garvin pointed to significant state funding for school buses, facilities, instructional materials, and scholarships, as well as ongoing discussions around infrastructure and energy needs to support the state’s growing population.

Looking ahead, Garvin said lawmakers will continue focusing on infrastructure improvements, education funding, and guiding responsible growth. While the state has recently been successful in passing legislation that provides funding for charter schools and other non-traditional education, he said the focus this coming year will be monitoring legal challenges to that funding.

Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Fripp

Fripp discussed Blythewood’s recent strategic planning efforts and the town’s intent on maintaining its small-town character while at the same time preparing for future growth. She said beautification was identified as a top priority by council members at the strategic planning workshop. She said the emphasis is on making the town welcoming and visually appealing even as development increases across the landscape.

Fripp also addressed the town’s temporary pause on nighttime public events. She explained that council’s safety concerns for the community led to the decision. Council’s newly formed park security task force headed up by Councilwoman Trish Hovis and made up of town officials and town residents will review event policies and recommend ways to safely bring events back, Fripp said.

­ She also said the town is reviewing development proposals and rezoning requests to ensure growth aligns with residents’ concerns.

“The community’s concerns are our concerns,” Fripp said.

Council’s immediate plans, she said, include hiring a new town manager to guide the town under Blythewood’s new council-manager form of government and encouraging more residents to serve on town boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission, the Board of Architectural Review, and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

County Councilman Derrek Pugh

Pugh addressed the county’s response to infrastructure and public safety challenges tied to current and future growth. He provided updates on major road projects, including the Blythewood Road project, improvements near the roundabout by Food Lion, and the Hobart Road railroad crossing, which is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Pugh said the county is exploring impact fees for new development to help fund roads, schools, and public safety services in the county. He also talked about the importance of supporting small businesses and strengthening partnerships between the county, town, and state to better plan for future needs.

Looking forward, Pugh said continued discussions with the town’s officials and long-term planning will be critical to preserving Blythewood’s small-town feel while ensuring the infrastructure and services are in place to support the tremendous growth the town is experiencing.

The panel concluded with all three officials encouraging open communication with residents and business owners as the community continues to see new businesses and homes come to the area.

BLYTHEWOOD – On Friday, Jan. 9, it was announced that a group of Buddhist Monks and their Peace Dog Aloka would be traveling through Blythewood the following Sunday.

Their first stop in 29016 was at the Transfiguration Catholic Church on Highway 21 southeast of town. It was a rest/lunch stop that lasted from 10:30 a.m. until a little after 1 p.m. During that time, an estimated 3,000 people sat in a grove of trees behind the church to listen to the Monks’ leader, Bhikkhu Pannakara, deliver one of many peace messages that he customarily shared each day during the rest/lunch stop and again in the evening during visiting hours, usually from 6:30–9 p.m.

Starting about 9 a.m. that day, crowds began to gather along Main Street (Hwy. 21) through downtown Blythewood.

It was like a Christmas parade crowd lining the streets, sitting on curbs, and eventually growing to thousands. The atmosphere was unusually quiet as the people waited patiently for hours to see the Monks.

The warm morning sunshine turned chilly and breezy just before the Monks approached Blythewood a little after 3 p.m.

Several Richland County Sheriff’s vehicles drove slowly ahead of the procession as the Monks, their rust- and orange-colored robes glowing in the distant sunshine, rounded the curve.

The excitement grew along the street as the Monks walked briskly into town, receiving and giving flowers to people along the route. The crowd was eager to see the Monks, but orderly and quiet. Mothers held their babies out for the Monks to see and give flowers to.

Everett Renwick, 9, and his brother McLean, 7, students at Langford Elementary School, stood along the roadway holding colorful Peace and Love signs they had made to greet the Monks.

Aloka rode in the Monks’ RV that day, resting his leg instead of walking with the Monks. The question could be heard frequently along the route, “Where’s Aloka?” Considerable disappointment was expressed that he was not in the procession, but there was also understanding of his condition.

As the Monks passed Liz Humphries’ consignment shop, a man and woman beside the road reached out to the Monks and they stopped, gathered around the man, took his hands in their hands and began a chant that lasted several minutes. They smiled and waved as they bid farewell to the couple. The Monks picked up their normally fast pace and they were gone … on their way to Ridgeway where they would overnight.

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WINNSBORO – After a woman in Fairfield County reported on Dec. 26, 2025, that she had been scammed on a purchase of more than $1,000 from Thomas and Turner Boutique in Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into the complaint.

On Dec. 31, 2025, Fairfield County investigators met with a Fairfield County magistrate and presented the facts of the case.

The Fairfield woman who filed the complaint stated that in 2024, she placed an order in the amount of $1,153 with Thomas and Turner Boutique, but never received the items she purchased.

The complainant stated that she contacted Pamela Brooke Schronce, the owner of the boutique, about the order and requested a refund. She said the last communication she had with Schronce was in November 2025 via email.

She said she has not received a refund and has since been blocked by Schronce on the business’s Facebook page.

Based on the information provided, an arrest warrant was issued for Pamela Brooke Schronce, owner of Thomas and Turner Boutique, on the charge of Obtaining Goods Under False Pretenses, in violation of South Carolina Code of Laws §16-13-240.

Immediately following the issuance of the arrest warrant, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Schronce was taken into custody and transported to the Anderson County Detention Center. She was extradited to Fairfield County, where she was formally charged and was released on a $1,000 surety bond.

The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office recognizes that this case is associated with allegations made by numerous individuals, including claims circulating on social media platforms. Anyone who believes they may be a victim of similar activity is encouraged to report their allegations to their local law enforcement agency.

This investigation remains ongoing.

Additional information may be released as it becomes available.

RICHLAND COUNTY – Starting Jan. 5, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will close the Lorick Road bridge over North Branch in Richland County for essential repairs.

The two-lane bridge is scheduled to remain closed through Jan. 22, though officials note that completion dates are subject to change based on weather conditions.

To manage traffic during the project, SCDOT has established a formal detour route. Motorists are encouraged to use U.S. Highway 321, Koon Store Road, and U.S. Highway 21 as primary alternatives.

Drivers should pay close attention to posted detour signage to navigate the area effectively. While the bridge site itself will be impassable, Lorick Road will remain open to local traffic on either side of the work. SCDOT urges all motorists to exercise caution and remain alert.