The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office has located human remains in a wooded area near Highway 308 in the Clinton area of Laurens County. As of 3/26/14 these remains have been identified as 22-year-old Samantha Renee Smith who went missing from her Leila Street residence in Clinton between October and November of 2006. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office is working in cooperation with the Clinton Department of Public Safety, the Laurens County Coroner’s Office, SLED, and others to further investigate this matter.

 Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office at 864-984-4967 or CRIMESTOPERS at 68CRIME.

On March 17th, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to a 2004 utility trailer that was stolen from a property in Cross Hill. During the ongoing investigation Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office received information on March 21st about a four-wheeler that had been stolen from their jurisdiction was located at a residence on Revan Drive in the County of Laurens. A search warrant was issued and executed. During the execution of the search warrant investigators located the trailer, four-wheeler and other stolen property, also located within the residence was a quantity of various drugs.

Forty-year-old Christopher Bruce Anders of 315 Revan Drive, Mountville and thirty-five-year-old Melissa Fairly Rhymer of 257 Billy Leopard Road, Cross Hill, both were arrested and charged with 3 Counts each of Violation of the Chop Shop Act, 2 Counts each for Receiving Stolen Goods, also Possession With The Intent To Distribute Marijuana and Possession With The Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine. They were both transported to the Johnson Detention Center where they were placed on hold for Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office on related charges.

UPDATE...

Warrants have been issued for Thomas E. Whitehead, Jr. for the standoff that occurred on March 13, 2024 on Community Center Road in Enoree.

Thomas E. Whitehead, Jr. has been charged with:

- Two Counts of Attempted Murder

- Manufacture of Methamphetamine

- Unlawful Disposal of Methamphetamine Waste

- Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of Violent Crime

- Threat to Use a Bomb/ Incendiary Device

- Manufacture of an Incendiary Device

These charges are in addition to the previously active warrant for Attempted Murder, stemming from a previous incident, which deputies were in the process of serving when the standoff began. Whitehead remains at the Johnson Detention Center where he is awaiting a bond hearing.

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

During the afternoon hours on March 13 Deputies with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office were involved in a standoff with a man wielding a knife and homemade explosive device.

Deputies arrived at the residence on Community Center Road, in Enoree, to serve an outstanding warrant. Deputies were confronted by a man armed with a knife and had an explosive device in plain view. Deputies were able to stabilize the situation by speaking to the man while LCSO's Special Operations Response Team (SORT) was activated. SLED Bomb Squad was also requested to respond to the situation. Residences in the surrounding area were evacuated due to the active explosive device. After a short standoff, Thomas Whitehead Jr. was taken into custody with only brief incident and transported to the Johnson Detention Center where he will be awaiting warrants to be served.

SLED Bomb Squad was able to disarm and neutralize the device without incident. Upon further investigation of the scene an active methamphetamine lab was also discovered and dealt with by members of LCSO Clandestine Lab Team.

Check back for updated information as it becomes available.

Fox Carolina's, Cody Alcorn, joined Laurens County Deputies on the afternoon of  February 13 to ride along with Deputy J.C. Brewington and other deputies involved with transporting essential medical personnel during the recent winter storm.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office urges you to be prepared for a possible ice storm this week. There is a chance Laurens County may experience a winter weather mix by Wednesday and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office would encourage all residents to be prepared.

A forecast of prolonged freezing rain is extremely dangerous. Trees, power lines, roads and walkways get covered with ice creating hazardous conditions. Freezing rain will create dangerous driving conditions and possible power outages.

If you lose electric service, the following safety tips can help you stay safe:

• Non-electric, unvented space heaters can be a hazard. Use them only in well-ventilated areas.
• Cook with a camp stove, fireplace or can of Sterno (cooking fuel). Never use charcoal or other fuels in unventilated areas.
• If you use an electric generator, plug appliances directly into it. Never plug a generator directly into your home's electrical wiring.
• Disconnect or turn off appliances you were using when the power went off. Leave one light on to tell you when service is restored.
• Avoid opening refrigerators or freezers. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36 to 48 hours if the door is closed. In a half-full freezer, food will keep 24 hours.

BE PREPARED

Good preparation makes winter storms more bearable. Follow a storm's progress by monitoring a weather radio. Prepare for a possible power outage.

MAKE SURE YOU:

Stock up on non-perishable foods, heating fuel and medications.

Fill your bathtub and spare containers with water in case your electric water pump or the local water system goes out.

Have a flashlight, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries handy.

Prepare older family members, friends or neighbors who live alone for the weather.

Store enough storm supplies to get each family member through three days without electricity or running water.

INCLUDE:

• Canned goods and non-perishable foods that don't need cooking. (Canned meats, fishes, soups, fruits, vegetables, juices, bottled water, baby formula, etc.)
• Prescription medicine (a two-week supply).
• Manual can opener.
• Disposable plates, cups and utensils.
• Water purification tablets (halazone).
• Infant care items (disposable diapers, wipes).
• First aid supplies.
• Flashlights or lanterns and extra batteries.
• Ice chest.
• Masking or duct tape.
• Battery-operated radio.
• Non-electric clock.
• Canned heat (sterno).
• Portable outdoor camping stove or grill with fuel supply.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Plastic sheeting for drop cloth.
• Chlorinated bleach.

These are a few suggestions we would ask you to consider in addition to other needs you may require. Please make all attempts to stay off of the roads if an ice storm occurs.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and all of Laurens County’s Public Safety and Public Works agencies will be working to assist you should inclement weather occur. Should you need immediate assistance call 911.

The Laurens County Emergency Management will be opening warming stations should they be needed. More details on the locations of these stations throughout Laurens County will be forthcoming.

Stay Safe and Stay Prepared!