Found Deceased SC - Theron Wallace, 20, kayaking, Columbia, 25 Dec 2021

[StarryStarryNight]

The family has hired a private investigator. News video and article updating the search:

Theron Wallace still missing after Lake Carolina kayaking trip | wltx.com

To me this sounds like the family thinks he walked away which I hope is what happened.

Indications he walked away:
- Apparently his phone pinged near St George Trail and Kelly Mill Road (assume that was after he went missing)
- Family says he always wore a life jacket and none was found with the kayak and paddle found in the lake
- Assuming the lake was dragged or divers searched and nothing found
- Seemed to be a nice young man but perhaps a little eccentric or different

Indications it was a kayaking accident:
- His kayak and paddle were found submerged in the lake

That’s all we sorta kinda know. I would love to know what his friends are saying.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Here's hoping Theron is okay.... but I'm starting to get a bad feeling.

 

[Wallendo]

The publicly available evidence points in two completely different directions.
1) Boating (kayak) accident with drowning
2) Staged disappearance.

The Bible verse he left marked on his bed per the wltx.com link reads:
“He will deliver his soul from going into the pit and his life, so see the light.” This seems to be to be an atypical verse to read and highlight on Christmas morning. This is from the book of Job. This suggests he was going through a difficult period of some sort.

 

[moonriverfarm]

For a kayak to be submerged, would it be damaged? I guess I thought they floated.

 

[JurassicParker]

Do kayak's have plugs? IF all of this was intentional on his part could he have pulled the plug to make it sink and make it look like something bad happened? If he needed a few days to himself to get his mind straight then why scare the bajeezus out of your family and friends? Just send a message and say "I need a couple days. I'm fine. I will reach out every other day to keep you in the loop." I'm hoping that all he is doing is taking some time for himself but Christmas day and just ghosting everyone isn't the best way. Theron please come home or at least reach out if it's possible for you to do so.

Edited to add: JMO MOO

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Still nothing new.. I'm losing hope.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Still nothing new.. I'm losing hope.

Yes. My hope has dropped along with the temperatures.

 

[LauraAnne]

His paddle was submerged? All the kayak paddles I've ever used float. If you're in a kayak accident, the paddle would just float away. Why was it submerged? Was it attached to the kayak, indicating that he wasn't actually kayaking at the time the boat went under?

 

[Darling136]

Coroner Naida Rutherford states that the Coroner’s Office Forensic K-9 unit assisted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to find the body around 4:35 p.m.

The body was confirmed to be an African American male.

“Details are limited at this time, however, a full autopsy with positive identification will be conducted in the morning with our forensic pathologist and anthropology team. We never want to give false hope or give a family wrong information, so we will positively identify this individual before sharing any other details. I have personally spoken with the family of the missing teen from Lake Carolina and they are aware of this discovery. Upon proper notification being made, we will release more detailed information”, Coroner Rutherford states.

Body found at Lake Carolina near area where 20-year-old kayaker went missing

Not yet identified

 

[lunarbear86]

A body was recovered Tuesday at Lake Carolina near the site where a University of South Carolina Aiken student disappeared on Christmas Day.

And although the coroner hasn’t positively identified the body to her satisfaction, the missing man’s sister says on social media that it’s him.

Searchers found body of 20-years old missing USC Aiken student – InsideEko.com

 

[JurassicParker]

Oh no.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

This was my fear all along...

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Really sad to hear this. Prayers to his family.

 

[Wallendo]

I guess the reports of his phone pinging several blocks away were erroneous.

Very sad. Christmas will never be the same for his family.

 

[LauraAnne]

So sad. Sweet soul gone too soon.

 

[Wallendo]

Coroner confirms the body is Theron

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article257072962.html

 

[YaYa_521]

Rest in peace, Theron. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who love him.