Investigators are working to determine how barrels containing human remains ended up in a South Carolina lake. WYFF's Parul Joshi reports.
The bodies of a man and a woman have been found in two barrels in a South Carolina lake, Anderson County investigators said.
The first barrel was discovered late Wednesday afternoon floating in the water near Asbury Park, the Anderson Independent Mail reported.
Investigators opened the barrel Thursday morning and determined it contained human female remains, sheriff’s spokesman Chad McBride said.
The woman has been identified through fingerprints, but her identity was not immediately released.
The second barrel was found Thursday afternoon, near a bridge about a half mile away. Greg Shore, Anderson County coroner, said the remains were of a man, the Independent Mail reported. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday.
The deaths are being investigated as homicides.
It's estimated that both bodies had been in the barrels for around 30 days, McBride told NBC News. Investigators believe that the deaths are related.
"From what we know it sounds like they were probably dead before they were placed in the barrels," McBride said.
It's not yet known how the victims were killed.
Watch US News crime videos on NBCNews.com
McBride said the remains were "in pretty bad shape" and described "a very gory scenario."
"We've had some pretty grisly murders and odd cases in our county but this is definitely another one of those that’s quite unusual," he told NBC News.
Charleston County Sheriff's Department Maj. Jim Brady said the woman’s body was not that of Gayle McCaffrey, a Charleston, S.C., woman who has been missing since March 17.
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THAT was a dumb choice: why give LEOs the ability to track where the barrels came from? All barrels are stamped with identification from the maker, for starters. Then you've actually got some preservation of said bodies in the barrels that could identify them and also how they were killed.
Better to feed the sharks off of the coast and get RID of the evidence instead of preserve it, IMO. IF you're inclined to need such a method for some nefarious reason, that is....
No evidence needed. Obama took a break from campaigning and was there killing them because all republicans "know" that Obama is to blame.
Yep, the pugbags will blame Obama for sure over this. Let them do so at their own peril. The 2014 elections will be here before people realize it. The longer they keep this crap up, the more people will vote for the D's in this next election.
The pugbags that hang out here didn't believe some of us that forcast that Mitt would lose, and for the main reason: "war on women." Women outnumber the men, and most women don't need men controlling their reproduction rights, nor most anything else.
Some of us women are very very capable of taking care of ourselves. Especially when one of the most outspoken ones is the chief "child molester." Meaning the Pope. Don't like it, then clean the monsters out of the Catholic Church. Until then STFU
dont feed the trolls please
I'm thinking that Alex has some experience with this sort of thing
Wow....so you guys think they didn't stuff themselves into barrels? I'd say that it was most likely homicide...yeah. Lol...what a funny statement.
They could have been racing. Maybe weighing the merits of an old oak barrel against the modern plastic drum - one did have a half-mile advantage. Maybe they worked for CIA.
just because barrells can be tracked doesnt mean the killer worked or even kenw of the company. he just went and grabbed 2 random barrells. If anything this could throw LE of their trail.
Lets not treat this like CSI tho and really hope they catch this person before it turns out to be another serial killer in training.
Good start, guys...
BrianB you are sick!
You think?
@Sally, tee hee...that's right. I digress, I hope they find the killers soon, how horrific. Poor families.
Investigated as homicides? I assumed they got in to drink out some 200 year old wine, they both drowned, then fell into the lake at different times.
If they were indeed murdered, why there were no rocks in those barrels to keep them on the bottom?
Let's take a cue from repubs... Obama did it as a human sacrifice to Allah!!! Does he have an alibi??? He was seen bringing barrels into the White House. The Secret Service, the FBI and the CIA are covering it up!!! General Petraeus found out, and look what happened to him. Somebody tell Darrell Issa!!! lol...
Takes a pretty sick mind to bring politics into this.
Someone's been watching those Dexter reruns.
Max_108.... when a body decomposes it emits gases.. as the barrels were sealed, they would automatically float due to the gas/air ratio in the barrel... rocks wouldn't have helped..
I think the killer watches Dexter... soon he/she will be wrapped in plastic <smile>
"The deaths are being investigated as homicides."
Ya think so Sherlock? Well Billy Bob, looks like we done got us a killin here that was dun by some other feller. Or maybe fellers. Now lets git us some cornbread and grits and go have some relations with your cousin. Then we'll see if'n we can't find us the lowdown yeller dogs what dun this.
how do you know he didn't commit suicide then lock himself in a barrel then throw the barrel into the water? durrr...
You dunno....maybe they had it coming.............
Barney Fife and Paw will figure this out after supper.......
I saw that, too! The other line that's great is, "Investigators believe that the deaths are related." Ya think??
"Barney Fife and Paw will figure this out after supper......."
That would be N.C.
"how do you know he didn't commit suicide then lock himself in a barrel then throw the barrel into the water?
didn't you read the story? it happened in SoCarolina....
not Texas !
Perhaps that both vics were in the barrel and hoped to go over Niagara Falls but got confused on Google Maps/GPS? (sarc.) Last words were "oooohhweee, wait 'til you see this...."
james171
Kendall in Long Beach
LOL, my first reaction too! New-fangled writers and editors at their best!
If not for the gruesome reason the stories were posted, they could certainly be considered comic relief.
I hope they find who did this. Condolences to the families, whoever they turn out to be and RIP to those in the barrels :/
Geez people. It's the basics of investigation: regardless of how obvious the evidence may look to you, you don't ASSUME anything until you have the facts in hand. While it is likely a homicide and likely that the two deaths are related, it is also still possible that newfound evidence could reveal another conclusion. That is why the investigators must report that they "believe" things are related until they know for sure that they are, in order to avoid incorrectly reporting a crime.
The funny thing about most of "y'all's" comments? A good portion of the folks in Anderson County are transplants from 'yankee' territoy, like NY, MI, PA, OH to name a few.
Under these circumstances and under others for more normal, THEY SHOULD ALWAYS INVESTIGATED AS IF IT WAS A HOMICIDE. That is what is funny, they certainly aren't going to "investigate it as an accident" till more evidence comes up.
Thoughts Ablaze. Exactly! And I couldn't have said it better. All those comments about what is totally routine sound moronic.
@james171 LOL. But on a serious side, may the victims rest in peace and justice be done.
Hey, genius! Yes, you, James171! Did it ever occur to you that the statements in the article were not made by S.C. law enforcement officials but are the interpretation of the reporter? Have you ever heard of the saying, "People in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks"? You have no room to make fun of South Carolina law enforcement considering that you clearly come from an area of the country where first cousins marry each other.
Really Milky way?? I would have never guessed NC. After growing up with Andy I would have never guessed in a million years it was NC. It is great to have monitors on newsvive though.
Here is a question, what is the actual NC city that the fictional "Mayberry" was filmed at ?? Show us how smart you are. Don't google and cheat.
I agree with Jack from Jax. I think the two of them were at Niagara Falls and both drunk, made a bet with each other about who would travel the furthest after going over the falls. I guess this means that the bets are off since either one lived to collect.
Someone has been watching back episodes of the TV show, "Dexter".
That was my first thought when I read the headline.
Yeeesh, imagine being the guy who had to open that barrel.
Oh nasty! That smell doesn't go away either.
Jack Daniels did it.
Maybe they drank themselves to death from all of that Jack Daniels. That's a good one IXLR8.
I just hate it when I'm standing near a barrel and trip on my shoelace, fall in, and the barrel lid falls on and tightens itself over me, and then when it rolls down into the water and falls in. I really hate when that happens. Barrels are just accidents waiting to happen and all people standing near them should be monitored closely.
being that it's Upstate SC.. more likely to be moonshine.. lol
Note to self: Do not open barrels....do not open barrels...do not open barrels...do not open barrels...
Well, it was clearly an accident.
Either that or I blame Obama.
Note to self: Avoid Charleston County, SC
No - that would be ANDERSON County, which is in the upstate of SC. Charleston County is in the lowcountry of SC. They only mention Charleston County because there is a suspicious disappearance of a Charleston County women, whose husband is suspected of killing her and taking her body to that part of SC. Charleston County is actually nice and not nearly as infested with radical right wing "republicans" as the upstate.
F-you Audrey. Your an embaressment to the Liberal party. So far left you fell off the edge. Or just a c##t.
Well, Goatbugger... It's clear that you're a recent recipient of the "head in the orifice" award!
Having just recently moved to another state after living the last six years in the upstate of SC, I can state with personal experience that she's dead on balls accurate.
Charleston is quite a nice community. To be sure, there are some radical right wing nut jobs there, given the wealthy affluence of some areas, but not nearly as many as there are in the upstate. Why, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it. There is a small town in the upstate, where there is a mobile home sitting on concrete blocks, and in the un-cut, overgrown front yard (next to the obligatory pick-up truck with the baseball bat in the gun rack) there is a hand-painted sign on a piece of plywood, that reads "I guess we have to paint the white house black now" I've seen it with my own eyes.
I've also seen people physically attacked for having bumper stickers from Democratic candidates. I know of two people who had their homes vandalised because they had Democratic candidate's yard signs. Where have I seen such things? In the upstate of South Carolina. From personal experience, I know she's right.
And I know you're talking out of another orifice. Else, you would not have had to resort to the refuge of the ignorant and uneducated, to wit, profanity.
I would wish you a nice day, but I clearly see that you're yet another miserable RepubliCON, who is smarting from the will of the people of this nation in the most recent election... Why don't you go threaten to secede or something?
Have a barrel of fun in SC
They found the bodies in Anderson County, SC. The missing woman, Gayle McCaffrey, is from Charleston County, SC, 200 miles away.
I imagine the smell was rather lovely
Roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun......
The perpetrator(s) is probally among these posters in the comments.
Maybe even.......YOU?!?
sad how some humans put no value on any thing living,no empathy,no compassion,pure evil.I watched the BTW killer confess to his 11 victims,including some children who he also tortured and killed.He had this cheap ass smile on,I wish I could have jumped into the tv and choked his breath away.These killing's were planned,who has barrels lying around.sad all around
How can he confess to his 11 victims if they are already dead?
This is what happens to anyone who tries to crash a Generals-Only party at Jill Kelly's
Oh Sh!t. Didn't they see that movie? You never, ever open up a barrel with a body in it. They only look 30 days old. That's the virus that's been keeping them fresh for decades. Have the bodies disappeared from the morgue yet? Are the responders starting to act weird...? It's just a matter of time people!
Dammit, now I have to go buy a shotgun and start pounding nails in a bat...Just hope the hoard gives me one last quite weekend...
Better stock up on Twinkies too. :)
And you really don't know there's a body in it UNTIL you open it. Otherwise, you're a "person of interest."
it is probably karl rove and his mistress. these are the types of accommodations you can expect after losing 300 million dollars.
Can't be Rove. I don't think he can be killed...
I don't think turd blossom can fit into a barrel.
Sounds more like a union style killing. Someone came ready to collect after Obama got reelected. They didn't have the funds, plop, in the barrel.
Reminds me of an episode of Dexter. This is just sickening.
I can not believe how rude people are...First what if this was your child or relative in the barrel??? And why just because we live in the south we are all considered dumb and stupid??? If that is the case WHY DO ALL THE YANKEE NORTHERNERS MOVE SOUTH?? STAY THERE WHERE YOU BELONG..This is very sad that 2 people lost their lives and nobody has compassion..I will pray for the families of these 2 and hope they find some peace with the whole situation..
Ummm, where you "belong"? I don't recall anything in the Constitution saying you aren't allowed to move about the country freely. I agree that it's wrong to label southerners as dumb, but it's just as wrong to disrespect people from the north (or west, or wherever). When you pray, ask for forgiveness first, *then* ask for the help the family or families will need.
I do pray that these familes finally have closure and that the killer(s) is(are) found quickly.
And about where people "belong"...the best website out there, in my opinion, is
"Montana Sucks..now go home and tell all your friends!"
I don't think the rudeness has anything to do with where you come from.
I'm a 'Yankee Northerner' who's already told people here that they have sick minds.
I hope they called Bones. She and her crew will figure it out quick. RIP.
In an hour, including commercial breaks. Case closed.
Maybe they were expermenting on a new tourist attraction "Ride the Barrel". The third person (the one that was susposed to retreive the barrels and let them out) had to go to the bathroom and forgot about them. Thus they expired. There I solved this crime.
I represent the forgetful urinator. Please cease and desist using the term "crime" when referencing my client's actions. He already said, "My bad!" and besides, who hasn't forgotten a few people in a barrel before?
I agree Larrym. I don't know why people have to make such stupid comments. Southerners are not ignorant and certainly no more crime here than up north or west for that matter. It is sad two people lost their lives. Making jokes and stupid comments show how child like the people act. If things are so bad in the south why do all those northerners keep moving south? The article reported 'probably homicides and probably related' because the police do not have anymore facts. They are probably correct in these statements but until they have the 'facts' they cannot go out and 'state' something as a 'true fact'. Two people are dead and no matter were they are from or who they were this is the tragedy. Condolences to the families.
Linda - I agree with everything in your post. My family can trace its history in the South back to before the American Revolution. Those people making fun of the South need to remember that the entire space program, from the first satellite launch to the last shuttle flight, was run by Southerners. If they don't believe that, then they can go back and listen to tapes of launches. Those are Southern accents we hear on those tapes.
Anyway, look at it this way...those who are making fun of the South are demonstrating their own sophomoric level of intelligence. By making fun of the murder of these two people, they are showing their lack of humanity and total lack of class. We Southerners are beter than that.
And I agree with Linda and Atticus, and when disasters hit north, we are there to help, I don't care where you are from, your color or your status, we are there. Same with our Western Neighbors, we are there to help when the fires outbreak.
But how about us in the South......when do you come and help us? Where were you at during Katrina? Not here, but you put us down for staying and living in areas like this, yet now the shoes is on the other foot, Sandy gave you a taste of what we put up with...alot...but we came to help.
Now we have a couple dead, and I cannot believe the posts here, maybe 5 that showed any concern, the rest think this is funny. And people wonder why our world is in such a mess? We have some sick, twisted people out there. Cowards posting behind the security of the internet because no one will see them, yet they keep their mouths shut in public and turn tail and run when help is needed.
For the families out there we as Southerners express our sorrow for loss of your loved ones, no matter where you come from.
It's obviously suicide by barrel.
Tis is atrocious; to quote: " The bodies of a woman, found floating.........." It's bad enough people are dead, but can you improve your writing skills.
'
robert haile - while I would normally agree with you about the writing abilities of NBCNews.com reporters, in this case, I think you need to improve you reading comprehension skills. There are two bodies, one of a man and one of a woman. Therefore, the use of the plural term "bodies" is correct.
Tis is atrocious; to quote: " The bodies of a woman, found floating.........." It's bad enough people are dead, but can you improve your writing skills.
Just looking at that one, short post of yours, Robert, I see an enormous lack of writing/communication skills. I won't bother to list them all, but I will point out my personal favorite: "Tis is." Really? Wtf is that?
Another case of Republicans suppressing votes. ACORN has nothing on these guys.
You are an idiot. Not just a run-of-the-mill idiot either, but one of those rare twits that thinks that a story like this is a good time to interject your unimportant political thoughts into the discussion. And the fact that you are a dad makes me weep for your children. I hope they take after their mother...