FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A missing persons investigation originating in North Carolina resulted in the arrest of a Lake City man on charges related to desecration of human remains, as reported by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
This led to the Sunday arrest of Charles Antwine Jr., 56, who was subsequently booked into the Florence County Detention Center. As of early Monday afternoon, he remains in custody without the option of bond.
The sheriff’s office noted that family members of Christy Thomas Ward and Antwine had reported the two missing from their home in Brunswick County, North Carolina, the previous week. The situation escalated on Saturday when a Florence County deputy observed what appeared to be a mostly submerged vehicle’s roof at the Lynches River boat landing near Riverside Cemetery.
Fire, EMS, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene and recovered the vehicle, which was unoccupied, the sheriff’s office said. The South Carolina license plate on the vehicle was registered to Antwine, who has an address on Stillwater Road near Lake City.
When deputies checked his property, they noticed an unusual smell coming from inside, and there was no response to their knocks, according to the sheriff’s office. A search warrant was conducted and Antwine was found sitting on a couch, while there were human remains in plastic containers that were taped shut.
Antwine was taken into custody at the scene. Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken has ordered an autopsy of the remains at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible. Count on News13 for updates.
