LANCASTER COUNTY, SC. (THECOUNT) — The body discovered in a wooded area in Lancaster, South Carolina on Tuesday, January 14, has been confirmed to be that of 82-year-old Ronald Todd Estiridge, who was reported missing earlier this month.
Estiridge was last seen on the evening of Tuesday, January 7, around 9:00 p.m., when he reportedly walked away from his residence in Lancaster County. His family reported him missing shortly thereafter, stating they had neither seen nor heard from him since his departure.
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The grim discovery was made by a neighbor who was returning home from work. The neighbor spotted the body in an elevated wooded area adjacent to Cannery Road in the Buford Community of Lancaster County, just before 5:00 p.m. on January 14.
Upon receiving the report, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other agencies, responded promptly to the scene. This included crime scene investigators, the county coroner, and the Spartanburg County Search and Rescue team, which utilized K-9 units to aid in the search operations.
The body was found merely a short distance from Estiridge’s last known location, his home. Authorities have stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting foul play in Estiridge’s death. However, the exact cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending the results of an autopsy.
Sheriff Barry Faile expressed his disappointment over the outcome of the search in a written statement, extending condolences to Estiridge’s family and friends. “Although this didn’t end like we all hoped it would, at least the family will not have to live with the uncertainty of where Mr. Estiridge is,” Faile remarked. He also acknowledged the support from various agencies involved in the search efforts over several days.
The investigation into Ronald Todd Estiridge’s death is ongoing. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with further information to come forward. They can be reached at 803-283-3388 for any leads or additional details that might assist in concluding the case.
The city of Lancaster is the county seat of Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States, located in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. As of the United States Census of 2010, the city population was 8,526. The city was named after the famous House of Lancaster.
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