Florence Police have arrested a third person in the case of a missing Florence teen, but are still investigating the case of a man found slain on the north side of the city Friday morning, Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said.
A. James “A.J.” Woye, 17, of Damond Road in Florence is charged with murder in connection with the death of 17-year-old Jeremiah Jenkins.
Jenkins’ body was discovered Aug. 30 in a vacant building on South Irby and Cedar streets. His identity was confirmed Friday afternoon after a DNA analysis by the State Law Enforcement Division, Florence Police Chief Anson Shells said.
Shortly after, two Florence men, 20-year-old Donovan Alexis Roman of 2131 Damon Drive and 18-year-old Zachary Navarre Morgan of 3694 W. Point Drive, were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Jenkins’ death, Shells said.
An autopsy showed Jenkins had been stabbed and beaten about the head. His body had been in the vacant building for three weeks, Shells said. Jenkins was reported missing Aug. 6.
Friday morning, Florence Police began another murder investigation after someone walking past a grassy area just off N. Dargan Street discovered the body of 28-year-old Corey Lee Byrd near the 100 block of Marlboro Street about 5:15 a.m., Florence County Coroner M.G. “Bubba” Matthews said.
It appears Byrd had been shot, and his death is being investigated as homicide, Matthews said.
The body was sent to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for an autopsy Saturday, Matthews said.
People in the neighborhood reported hearing shots fired shortly before Byrd’s body was found, he said.
Police said they haven’t named any suspects and are questioning neighbors and people who might have known the Byrd.
Byrd is the third person found slain in Florence in just more than a week.
On Aug. 27, Florence resident Willie Mae Hayes, 69, was found dead on Mallory Street after she was reported missing by her family two days earlier.
Four suspects, including two 14-year-old boys, were arrested and charged in connection with Hayes’ death.
The death of 17-year-old Juares Silriano, whose body was found Aug. 18 just outside the city limits, near the corner of Cashua Drive and Second Loop Road, was ruled a suicide, according to the Florence County Coroner’s Office.
Anyone with additional information about any of the cases is asked to call the Florence Police Department at (843) 665-3191 or, Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at (843) 667-TIPS (8477) or (866) 369-TIPS (8477). Callers need not reveal their identities.
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