Florence County double homicide suspect denied bond

EFFINGHAM — Florence County Magistrate Belinda Timmons has denied bond for the third suspect charged in the death of a man and woman whose bodies were found on a Florence County dirt road.

Fonnelze Delaine, 26, was arrested Wednesday night off Hoffmeyer Road, near the Florence-Darlington County line, by Florence and Darlington county sherififf’s deputies, State Law Enforcement Division agents and U.S. Marshals.

Delaine is charged with being an accessory before the fact of a murder, according to Florence County Sheriff’s Office reports. The warrant alleges he conspired with one or more of the other defendants to kill one of the victims.

Two other suspects were arrested Friday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 1 shooting deaths of 32-year-old Talya Poston and 26-year-old Billy L. Hall of Florence.

Laross Antonio Graham, 27, of 3020 Dawn St., was arrested near Pine Street in Florence after deputies, acting on tips, had been searching the area for him Friday afternoon, Florence County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Nunn said.

Montez Myhell Barker, 25, of 1620 Pine St. Ext. was arrested Friday night near Gaillard and Kershaw streets in Florence.

Both Graham and Barker have criminal records, according to SLED reports.

Graham was denied bond on a charge of resisting arrest Thursday morning, as well.

Both Poston and Hall were well known in Florence and both were the children of local business owners.

Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said he believes the slayings were drug-related. During the search for Delaine, deputies confiscated drugs, drug paraphernalia and made two drug-related arrests that aren’t linked to the deaths.

Before Delaine was arrested, Boone said, finding him was a major priority for the sheriff’s office.

“This third suspect is a major player as far as the drug trade is concerned, and we think that taking him off the streets is going make a difference,” the sheriff said. “We feel like this is going help close the door on this double homicide and give this family some closure, which they well deserve.”

“I am so proud of our investigators and deputies in making these arrests. They have worked tirelessly to solve these brutal murders,” he said. “I would also like to thank the other law enforcement agencies for their cooperation and assistance, as well as the public for the numerous tips which were provided. Hopefully, this brings some small measure of comfort to the families of the victims.”

The victims’ bodies were found on Isaiah Street, which is just off of Flowers Road near Pamplico Highway.

Soon after the deaths, deputies found the green Ford Explorer they’d been searching for in connection with the case. It was parked off of First Street in east Florence, and someone burned it nearly down to its frame. The Explorer, which belonged to one of the victims, was processed for evidence.

All three suspects remain in custody at the Florence County Detention Center in Effingham.

The possibility of additional charges cannot be ruled out, according to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.