SC - Austin Steele, 18, Murdered & Dismembered, Lancaster, *Arrests* Feb 2018

[Gardener1850]

Couple Charged After An 18-Year-Old’s Dismembered Remains Were Found On Lancaster Property

Deputies have charged two suspects after finding the dismembered remains of a missing 18-year-old Thursday afternoon.

Christopher Holford, 30, is charged with Murder and his wife Brandy Duncan, 19, is charged with Accessory After the Fact of Murder in the death of Austin Steele.

The couple was married last month, according to investigators, and lived in a mobile home with Steele on the High Point Circle property behind the main house. Officials say the three were renting the mobile home from the property’s owner.

According to detectives, Steele died several weeks ago after being shot in the neck by Holford. The morning after the shooting Holford and Duncan allegedly dismembered his body and hid it around the property.

Read more: http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2018/0...rway-human-remains-found-property/pic/442973/

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the victim died of a single gunshot wound. Officials are working to positively confirm the identity of the victim through DNA testing.

Investigators found a human torso buried on the property. A human skull was found outside. Bones were found in a burn barrel and a box under the mobile home.

Police found a revolver in the main house and an axe, a broken sword and knives in the mobile home.

Neighbors confirm this is a picture of 19-year-old Austin Steele. Lancaster Co. Sheriff says this husband and wife murdered Steele, dismembered his body and buried him and their backyard. Today would’ve been Steele’s 19th bday. @wcnc pic.twitter.com/B3OIF2KHPu

— Billie Jean Shaw (@BillieJeanTV) March 2, 2018​

Holford was already in custody for a domestic violence-related charge before police received the initial call from a concerned neighbor.

Holford has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. He was also charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and failure to provide internet information in connection with the sex offender registry.

Holford was denied bond on the murder charge on Friday morning.
Duncan has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder.

http://www.wcnc.com/article/news/cr...-murder-dismembering-teens-body/275-524940316

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/la...gents-investigate-possible-homicide/709189946

 

[silverkitty]

Really? He's 30?! I must live in an alternate reality...

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[Gardener1850]

Body in Lancaster found dismembered. Will the prosecutor seek the death penalty?

Legal experts say South Carolina law is clear. A murder case involving dismemberment or torture gives prosecutors the option to seek the death penalty.

Lancaster County prosecutors, for the first time in more than three decades, will decide whether to seek capital punishment in the death and dismemberment of a Lancaster teen.

Lancaster sheriff’s officials charged Christopher Holford with murder in the death of his roommate, 18-year-old Austin Tyler Steele. Police say Holford shot Steele in the neck weeks ago at a High Point Circle home in Lancaster.

“Steele survived into that night but was deceased the next morning,” deputies said in a statement. They also say Holford dismembered Steele’s body and concealed it.

Deputies described what they found during the investigation: “A human torso absent limbs was found buried on the property. A human skull was found outside. Bones were found in a burn barrel. Bones were found in a box under the mobile home.”

Randy Newman, 6th Circuit Solicitor who is Lancaster County’s top prosecutor, said no decision has been made on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

“The investigation is still ongoing and it would be inappropriate right now to say what direction we will take,” he said.
Bill Nowicki, a Rock Hill lawyer appointed to represent Holford, said he has not been notified by prosecutors that the case against Holford could be a potential capital case.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article204357724.html#storylink=cpy

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