Two men arrested in slaying of Florence teen

The second of three people found slain in Florence in the past two weeks has been positively identified as a Florence teen reported missing a month ago.

The body of 17-year-old Jeremiah Jenkins 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.

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 late Friday afternoon, Shells said.

More arrests in the crime are possible, the chief 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.

Shells said one of the people involved in the crime told police Jenkins was last seen getting into burgundy vehicle with a S.C. license plate at the Ramada Inn at Interstate 95 and U.S. 76. In reality, Jenkins had been taken from his residence straight to the building where he body later was found.

Shells said it wasn’t difficult to conduct the homicide investigation without knowing for certain the identity of the victim in this case.

“The point is that we did have a body. We are going to treat (the person’s death) as a homicide ... until we can prove something different,” he said.

Investigators had circumstantial evidence that led them to believe the victim in this case was Jenkins, Shells said.

Meanwhile, police are investigating their third homicide in a month after a body was discovered in a grassy area just off of North Dargan Street on Friday morning, Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said.

Someone walking past the scene 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.

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 may have known the victim.

The body will be sent to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for an autopsy today, Matthews said.

Byrd is the third person found slain in Florence in just over 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.