SC Man Arrested, Charged with Murder After Women’s Bodies Found in Rural Woods
SUMTER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Authorities have arrested a Camden man one month after the bodies of two women were discovered in a wooded clearing in the Midlands.
Victims Identified
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the remains belonged to 35-year-old Christine Marie McAbee of Walterboro and 38-year-old Kristen Grissom of North Charleston. The women were found on August 8 in a rural area near Richbow Road in Rembert, about 111 miles from Charleston County.
The coroner’s office said McAbee died from a gunshot wound, while investigators are still waiting for toxicology tests to confirm Grissom’s cause of death.
Arrest of Tiamo Henry Mitchell Drakeford
On Friday, deputies arrested 29-year-old Tiamo Henry Mitchell Drakeford, of Camden. He is facing charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and desecration of human remains.
The sheriff’s office said the women’s bodies appeared to have been placed at the location after their deaths. It was the landowner who discovered the remains before calling deputies.
Ongoing Investigation
Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis noted that the case is not closed. He warned that more arrests are expected and emphasized the incident was a targeted crime, not a random act of violence.
Investigators have not yet released details on how they linked Drakeford to the women’s deaths.
Sheriff Dennis thanked SLED, the North Charleston Police Department, Camden Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the ATF, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office for assisting in the case.
Public Asked to Assist
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at 803-436-2000, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC, or submit tips online.
Do you think law enforcement in South Carolina is doing enough to prevent targeted killings like this, or are stronger measures needed in rural counties? Share your views with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
