Six people are dead and another critically injured following a reported stabbing and house fire in South Carolina on Sunday, July 2.
According to the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, six people were found dead around 11 a.m. Sunday inside a burning structure on Folly Creek Lane in the Green Pond community. A seventh individual was taken to a hospital in critical condition, the sheriff’s office said.
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office and 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office re scheduled to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. on Monday outside the sheriff’s headquarters. Watch in the player above or click here if viewing on a mobile device.
Confirmation of the deaths follows News 4’s reporting earlier Sunday of a large law enforcement, firefighter and paramedic presence on Folly Creek Lane for what was only confirmed to be a “structure fire” at the time.
In a news release late Sunday afternoon, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office said it had arrested Ryan Lenard Manigo, age 33, on a charge of attempted murder related to the incident. The charge was attributed to the injuries suffered by the surviving victim, the department said in a social media post.
A source with direct knowledge of the incident confirmed at least one of the victims suffered apparent stab wounds. The sheriff’s office has not confirmed those details.
State police with South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating the fire as a potential arson, Colleton County officials said in their news release.
“SLED was requested today by the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office to assist in an arson and death investigation involving seven victims,” SLED Director of Public Relations Renee said Sunday. “The SLED Arson Unit, SLED Crime Scene Unit, Agents with SLED’s Low Country Region, and SLED’s Special Victim’s Unit (SVU) are responding.”
Identities of the victims have not been released, pending a coroner’s investigation and notification of family members.
As of 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the area around the scene remained blocked off by a heavy law enforcement presence.
On Sunday, a woman named Kelisha Arnold identified herself in a newly-created GoFundMe as the aunt of one of the victims, specifically a 7-year-old named Shamiah Rutledge.
According to the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Manigo is scheduled for a bond hearing between 3 and 5 p.m. on Monday at the Colleton County Courthouse.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to call 843-549-2211.
Tell us your thoughts...