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WINNSBORO – A reward has been offered in conjunction with a Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office investigation of an animal cruelty case regarding a female Pit Bull mix that was found on the edge of Drawdy Park Sunday morning by a citizen who was driving by.

The dog, which was barely breathing and severely emaciated according to the incident report, was found partially stuffed inside a dog food bag and lying on the side of Eighth Street at the corner of Drawdy Park across from the cemetery.

According to the citizen who found her and rushed her to a veterinary emergency clinic in Columbia, a deep bloody wound circled her neck where it appeared that an embedded collar or rope had been ripped out of her skin before she was dumped. The citizen also reported that when the dog was found, she couldn’t raise her head off the ground.

The dog did not survive the day.

While whoever abandoned the dying dog had left the scene, they also left evidence – two latex gloves – on the ground next to the dog that Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery says may possibly aid in the investigation.

“We’re having the gloves tested for DNA,” Montgomery told The Voice. “Hopefully, it will give us a lead to who did this, who left this dog to die. We’re also checking cameras in the area that might provide information useful for the investigation.”

A $1,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the abandonment and subsequent death of the dog, according to a Sheriff’s report. Three organizations (Hoof and Paw, Final Victory, and Because of Roscoe) contributed to the reward.

The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone with knowledge about this incident contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141.

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BLYTHEWOOD/FAIRFIELD COUNTY – At least 25 people have been reported killed in South Carolina as the result of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in the state.

The deaths of two of those people directly impacted Blythewood and Fairfield County families. Volunteer firefighters Landon Bodie, 18, and George (Chad) Satcher, 53, were killed Friday morning when a tree fell on the cab of their fire truck as they were answering a service call in Saluda County in connection with Hurricane Helene.

Bodie, who played football at Blythewood High School and graduated last May, had recently become a volunteer firefighter for the Circle Fire Station in Saluda.

Blythewood High School Principal Matt Sherman remembered Landon Bodie as a servant leader.

 “He was always quick to offer help,” Sherman said. “He always brought a kind word to the conversation and definitely raised the bar of character for anyone nearby. He always went above and beyond to help others. I can see him as a volunteer fireman, ready to assist and help in the storm.

“While his death is a tragedy, I’m comforted to know that he died doing what he loved,” Sherman added, “helping others.

“As an officer in the FFA, Landon was one of our Bengal Ambassadors,” Sherman said. “He represented not only Blythewood High School but the Blythewood community when he went out to local or state FFA events. I remember him as being very proud to wear his FFA jacket.”

In an email to the BHS staff, Sherman wrote:

“If you had a chance to meet or teach Landon… you are one of the lucky ones. Landon lived a life of high morals and a call to serve. Such an amazing kiddo with an old soul.”

George (Chad) Satcher, 53, and a resident of Batesville-Leesburg, was a longtime volunteer firefighter for the Circle Fire Station of the Saluda County Fire Department, where he served as Chief.

Satcher is a first cousin of former Winnsboro Town Manager Jason Taylor.

“Chad and I grew up together and were very close,” Taylor said. “He was the kind of person who was committed to his community. His loss was a blow to our family, of course. But he lost his life doing something he was very committed to and very proud to do. He very much enjoyed serving his community as a firefighter.

“A lot of us define ourselves as far as the job we do,” Taylor said, “but Chad largely defined himself as a father, a husband, and a firefighter.”

In a Facebook post, the Saluda County Fire Service said the funeral for Satcher will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Batesburg-Leesville High School Fine Arts Center, with internment to follow in Ridge Crest Memorial Park. The family will receive family and friends from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, October 4 at the Milton Shealy Funeral Home of Batesburg.

Funeral service information for Bodie was still pending as of Tuesday.

GREENBRIER – A Fairfield County man has been issued a ticket for $1,087.50 for breaking a county ordinance three weeks after a dog he owned attacked a woman walking in the 4300 block of Greenbrier-Mossydale Road, according to a Fairfield County Sheriff’s incident report.

The incident occurred about 8:30 a.m., Sunday, July 28.

After deputies arrived on scene, a 71-year-old woman told them a dog had come out of a yard near where she was walking down Greenbrier-Mossydale Road and began attacking her. The deputy’s report states that the woman had “multiple bites and lacerations over her body.”

The woman was transported to a medical facility in Winnsboro for treatment.

Deputies located the dog, a female Pit Bull along with a male Pit Bull and two puppies at a home near where the attack occurred.

A second report, provided by Fairfield County Animal Control, stated that the two adult dogs were seized.

According to the report, it was unclear at the time whether the dogs were owned by the man who lived at the home or by his son.

On Aug. 9, after the investigation was completed, deputies determined that the son, Rashad Evans, 24, of Ridgeway was responsible for the dogs, according to the report. Evans was issued a ticket for breaking a county animal ordinance, Running at Large, in the amount of $1,087.50.

According to County Ordinance 535, Article III, Sec. 4-56 (b), Whenever any domestic animals shall be found upon the lands of any other person than the owner or manager of such animals, the owner of such trespassing stock shall be liable for any damages sustained.

State law Sec. 47-7-130 states that …the owner of such trespassing stock shall be liable for all damages sustained and for the expenses of seizure and maintenance.

In response to an FOI request from The Voice to the Fairfield County Animal Shelter for documents pertaining to the seizure of the two dogs, Fairfield County Public Information Officer Gene Stephens said the two dogs were released to the owner after 10 days in the shelter.

An email from Animal Shelter Director Joanne Shaw states that, “Boarding fee for quarantined animals is $10 per day for 10 days plus $10 for a rabies vaccine after the 10-day hold per DHEC. Both dogs were brought in for the quarantine period with a total payment of $220 which was paid by the owner.”

en were gunned down and left with serious injuries Friday night in the former Walmart parking lot in Winnsboro.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept 20, adjacent to the Planet Vape in the parking lot in the 700 block of U. S. Hwy 321 By-Pass.

As two cousins – a boy, 12, and a girl, 16 – were walking with family members to a car in the parking lot following the Fairfield Central High School’s Homecoming game across the street, individuals behind the Planet Vape shop opened fire, hitting the young cousins, according to officials.

“The kids were not the target,” said Interim Winnsboro Public Safety Department (WDPS) Police Chief Patrick Clemons. “There was definitely one group shooting at someone. We feel we know who the intended victim was, but we haven’t nailed down the names of the shooters who hit the two children.

“The teen girl was shot in the face. She underwent surgery Monday and will require reconstructive surgery,” Clemons said. “The 12-year-old boy was struck in the arm and leg and is expected to make a full recovery.”

Both remain hospitalized, Clemons said.

According to Clemons, immediately after the children were hit, an adult family member of the victims drove them directly to MUSC Fairfield where Fairfield County EMS picked them up and transported them to Prisma Hospital in Richland County. 

In the meantime, Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputies, who had been working security at the FCHS football game, heard several gunshots coming from the direction of Bojangles, which borders the Walmart parking lot. Deputies responded, but according to Clemons, the children had already been driven to the hospital and were no longer at the scene when the deputies arrived.

Upon arrival, the deputies reported seeing blood and shell casings in the parking lot near Planet Vape.

While deputies were on scene, a caller reported three males walking around behind apartment building No. 4 of the Deerwood Apartments – which are next to the Walmart parking lot – armed with pistols and yelling at bystanders.

Clemons said it is not conclusive whether the three males were involved in the shooting incident.

The deputies relocated to the Deerwood Apartments where multiple individuals were at the entrance to the apartments.  As several individuals in an SUV appeared to be trying to leave quickly, a female occupant stated to deputies that an individual had made a threat about possibly starting another shooting incident, a Fairfield County Sheriff’s incident report stated.

According to the report, a male, identified as Jeremiah Marquees Ruff, 20, who matched the description provided by the female occupant of the SUV, was walking away from the group at the entrance when deputies approached him and advised him that because of his match to the description, they were going to check him for weapons. They subsequently discovered a handgun sticking out of his waistband, according to the report.

When deputies attempted to detain Ruff, he resisted and assaulted one of the officers, prompting them to place him under arrest and transport him to the Fairfield County Detention Center, according to the report.

“We’re still trying to determine whether the two incidents – the one in the Walmart parking lot and the one behind Deerwood Apartments – are related,” Clemons stated.

“The biggest problem with people out there shooting guns is that they shoot randomly and hit innocent bystanders who are minding their own business,” Clemons said.

While the Fairfield County Sheriff’s department was first on the scene, the incidents are being investigated by the WDPS. The department asks anyone with information to call 803-635-4511.

This story will be updated as more information is available.

COLUMBIA – Richland County Coroner has identified two men who were shot to death near Blythewood over the weekend.

The shooting victims were identified as Corey Johns, 40, of Lexington and Jibaris Veal, 37, of Columbia.

Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of Koon Store Road at about 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, in response to a reported shooting. The location is off Wilson Blvd., just outside Blythewood 29016.

The two men were discovered inside a 2008 Jeep Liberty which was located at the rear of the property, according to the incident report. Deputies report that the jeep was partially inside a shed, and that the men were found slouched over inside the vehicle and appeared to be deceased.

The shooting is being investigated by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

The Sheriff asks anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies have not yet said what led to the shooting or if there are any suspects.

BLYTHEWOOD – A Blythewood High School student passed away Saturday morning, according to BHS Principal Matt Sherman.

According to Sherman, the male student died of natural causes.

“We are devastated,” Sherman said. ”We’ve been in touch with the family, and we have informed the Blythewood High School family.

“He was a junior, a very good athlete and an excellent student,” Sherman said. “He was a wonderful young man, trusted and really loved by all. This is truly a loss for our school family and for the community.”

Sherman said the school will have support in place for students when school reopens on Tuesday, and that the District will release a statement shortly.

“We are deeply saddened,” BHS football tweeted Saturday evening. “His talent, dedication, & bright spirit made an impact on all… Keep our community in prayer.”

The coroner’s report is expected to be issued on Sunday.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY –Sheriff Will Montgomery announces the arrest of a suspect for a murder that occurred in July 2023.

Marshawn Devon Geiger, who is currently incarcerated in the SC Department of Corrections for unrelated charges, was formally arrested on August 19, 2024 for the murder of Tyon D. Byrd.

On July 1, 2023, Byrd was attending a birthday party at a residence on Peach Road in the Greenbrier area of Fairfield County when a firearm was discharged into a crowd of people. Byrd was struck by gunfire and died as a result of the gunshot wound. Two other persons were struck by gunfire also and suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators have continued to follow leads related to this case since the incident date. Investigators were able to identify Geiger as a suspect and, subsequently, they were able to charge Geiger in this incident.

In addition to the Murder charge, Geiger was also charged with 2 counts of Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime. Geiger will be brought before a Fairfield County judge at a later date.

Sheriff Montgomery: “We want to express our deepest sorrow to the families and friends of Tyon Byrd and the two other victims. This was a senseless tragedy and we know that these families have been hurting,” Sheriff Montgomery said. “We are glad to have been able to make an arrest in this investigation. Without the community partnerships that we have, and are so proud of, making headway in investigations such as this would be much more difficult.”

COLUMBIA – Lateef Karim Carnegie, 50, was arrested for the shooting that occurred at the Kroger grocery store on Killian Road on Sunday, Aug. 18.

On Sunday afternoon, Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Kroger in reference to a shooting incident.

Upon arrival, deputies quickly detained the suspect and secured the scene. Deputies determined that the shooting had occurred in the parking lot during an altercation between two individuals. There were no injuries or victims reported.

Carnegie was arrested without incident and taken to the Alvis S. Glenn Detention Center.

Carnegie is charged with attempted murder, use of a firearm while under the influence and breach of peace aggravated in nature.

BLYTHEWOOD – Following the Town’s Rockin’ Red White and Blue fireworks celebration on July 3, at Doko Park, the Town government reported that a teen was arrested and charged with Aggravated Breach of Peace after shooting a splat (toy) gun in the park and was transported to Alvin S. Glenn detention center. But there were other disturbances reported as well including a Roman candle and other fireworks being set off by attendees in the crowd which was reported by Town Hall to be as large as 13,000 people.

There were also reports by witnesses but not acknowledged by Town Hall that a young girl was injured – by some reports, by the splat guns and by other reports, by the Roman candle – and that an ambulance on site at the park was unable to transport the injured girl out of the park because of the large crowd size.

It was also reported in The Voice that witnesses saw the injured girl then wheeled on a stretcher from the park to Langford Road, then down Langford Road to the parking lot of Home Advantage Realty office at the intersection of Langford Road and Main Street in downtown Blythewood where she was transferred to another ambulance that was called to assist in the transport.

At the time, The Voice was unable to verify this information with Town Hall, the Richland County EMS or Blythewood’s RCSD Station Six.

An RCSD public information officer responded to The Voice that there were no incident reports other than the one filed concerning the arrest of the 15-year-old male.

However, last week, a spokesperson for Richland County verified that a person was transported from Doko Park by Richland County EMS.

 “I think what happened is that we did have a dedicated ambulance on site, but there was one individual that needed medical assistance, so they called in the closest EMS to transport that individual,” EMS Director Susan O’Cain told The Voice.

LEXINGTON, S.C. – A Winnsboro man has been charged earlier this week with murder in the stabbing death of a man found inside a burning home in Lexington, County, on July 20, 2024, according to a Lexington County Sheriff’s report.

Edward Leroy Smith, 39, of Winnsboro, was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and charged with murder in the stabbing death of Caldwell Melton Motley, Jr. Smith was also charged with attempted murder of another man.

According to the initial incident report at the time of the stabbing, Lexington County EMS and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department discovered Motley’s body when they arrived on scene of a burning home on Oak Ridge Lane in Lexington County. Emergency personnel found Motley’s body inside the burning home.

The emergency crews also discovered another man with injuries in a separate garage-type building on the property. That man was transported for medical care.

“During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Smith stabbed Motley to death,” said Lexington Sheriff Jay Coon. “Detectives also determined that Smith injured the other man at the scene by striking him with an edged object.”

Victim and witness interviews, evidence and electronic data indicate Smith was at the Oak Ridge Lane scene shortly before a 911 call was made in reference to smoke coming from the house. 

Smith is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center after a magistrate denied him bond Wednesday morning.

Smith is the former owner of Smith’s Towing in Winnsboro. He was recently living in the Blythewood area.

More information about the arrest will be posted when it is available.

This story was updated August 14, 2024 at 4:12 p.m.