Remains of man found inside a barrel in South Carolina: Man is charged

2023-07-03

Remains of amputee, 56, found inside a barrel floating on a South Carolina lake more than two weeks after he went missing: Man, 25, is charged

The remains were found in a barrel floating in Gaffney’s Lake Thicketty Thursday
Coroners identified the body as 56-year-old Jeffrey Sutphin of Cherokee County
They have charged Eric Fetzer, 25, with desecration and removal of the remains

The remains of a 56-year-old amputee who went missing more than two weeks ago has been recovered – stuffed in barrel found floating in a South Carolina lake.

Law enforcement in rural Cherokee County made the disturbing discovery around 1:45pm ET Thursday, after being summoned to 100-acre Lake Thicketty in small-town Gaffney.

Deputies reportedly arrived to the scene to find the 42-gallon vat floating near the shore – and upon opening it discovered the body of 56-year-old Jeffrey Sutphin. Upon analyzing the corpse, a coroner confirmed it had been locked away for ‘a number’ of days.

After identifying the body, officials said they interviewed a person of interest – during which they learned Cherokee resident Sutphin, who was missing his right leg, was likely killed somewhere in neighboring Spartanburg County, a brief drive away.

Sutphin was reportedly last seen on June 15 in Chesnee, which is set in both counties. Police have since made a single arrest following the grim find – charging Eric Shawn Fetzer, 25, with destruction, desecration or removal of human remains.

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The remains of 56-year-old Jeffrey Sutphin, who went missing in rural Cherokee County more than two weeks ago, was recovered Thursday – after being stuffed in barrel that was found floating in an 100-acre lake not far from where he disappeared

Police have since made a single arrest following the grim find – charging 25-year-old Eric Shawn Fetzer with destruction, desecration or removal of human remains

‘Deputies found the barrel near the shore and upon opening it found human remains,’ Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler wrote in a news release Friday, as investigating deputies said they anticipate additional arrests in the coming days.

‘It appears the body had been in the container for a number of days.’

She added: ‘Since the discovery, investigators were able to confirm late Thursday that the death occurred in Spartanburg County.

‘This morning I transferred the remains to Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger who will assume the death investigation as is protocol.

‘My office role will only be a recovery to assist another agency.’

In an earlier update, police in Cherokee County said they received a call to the scene at 1:45pm ET, after which they found the missing man’s remains after pulling the partially submerged barrel ashore and prying it open.

Members of the Department of Natural Resources, Cherokee County Emergency Management, and Spartanburg County Emergency Management also assisted with the recovery.

After coming into possession of the body Friday, Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger penned his own statement Saturday – one that revealed the corpse belonged to Sutphin, and that officials suspected foul play in his death.

In it, Clevenger claimed Sutphin ‘was taken to Cherokee County in attempt to hide the death.’

Law enforcement in rural Cherokee County made the disturbing discovery around 1:45pm ET Thursday, after being summoned to 100-acre Lake Thicketty in small-town Gaffney.

After identifying the body, officials said they interviewed a person of interest – during which they learned Cherokee resident Sutphin was likely killed somewhere in neighboring Spartanburg County, a brief drive away

Sutphin – who had a prosthetic right leg – was last seen in early wearing a blue short sleeve shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and a green ball while leaving a business in Chesnee, which is set in both counties

Officials reportedly came to the conclusion after interviewing the person of interest, who has yet to be identified – and whose account was apparently enough to have the case transferred to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies said they expect to make additional arrests soon, after deputies in Cherokee apprehended 25-year-old Feltzer after the aforementioned interview.

Prior to that arrest, Cherokee Sheriff Steve Mueller described his department’s ongoing effort to help Spartanburg County deputies find the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible.

He said Friday: ‘We’ve still got about four investigators out working, as we speak, running down some leads and some information on this case.

‘It’s part of an ongoing investigation that led us to that area to search and look for human remains.’

He further added of the probe’s success thus far: ‘It’s developing fairly well.’

‘It appears the body had been in the container for a number of days,’ officials said following the discovery at the South Carolina lake

Officials have not released any other details surrounding his disappearance nor the ongoing investigation, or whether his death is being treated as a homicide. Officers’ investigation, as of Sunday, is still ongoing

As for Sutphin, not much is known about the deceased – aside for the fact a massive search had been in effect since he was reported missing on June 15, after he was seen leaving a business on Rutherfordton Highway on June 4 at around 8:00 pm ET.

Friends or relatives presumably reported the victim – who acquaintances said used a prosthetic right leg – missing after more than a week without any word.

Officials have not released any other details surrounding his disappearance nor the ongoing investigation, or whether his death is being treated as a homicide.

The car Sutphin had been driving when he was last seen – a gold 2006 Jeep Liberty – has yet to be recovered. Officers’ investigation, as of Sunday, is still ongoing.

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