The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is Conducting a Current Active Death Investigation
UPDATE FROM THE OCONEE COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE:
The body of an unidentified Caucasian female was discovered early Saturday morning near Westminster. The discovery was reported to Oconee 911 Communications at 08:20 am.
This body was found by hunters in a remote wooded area of property near the end of Rufus Land Road, Westminster.
The deceased was identified Monday morning by dental records, x-rays and a known tattoo.
She is identified as Renee Rowland King; she was 42 years of age at the time of her death.
It is estimated she died on Saturday, November 28th, 2020.
Her body was in an advanced state of decomposition. An autopsy found no obvious signs of trauma; toxicology studies will be conducted. This analysis may take 60 to 90 days to be completed.
Her manner of death remains pending investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting an active death investigation after a body was discovered near Westminster this morning.
The E-911/Communications Center received a call around 8:19am from hunters, as well as speaking with the property owner, in regards to a decomposed body that was discovered in some woods at the end of Rufus Land Road, which is near Jenkins Bridge Road.
Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Division, investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division and the Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to begin an investigation and gather evidence.
Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis issued the following statement:
The body of an unidentified Caucasian female was discovered early Saturday morning near Westminster. The discovery was reported to Oconee 911 Communications at 08:20 am.
This body was found by hunters in a remote wooded area of property near the end of Rufus Land Road, Westminster.
A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED
The physical characteristics of this deceased woman are consistent with a missing Westminster woman who was known to stay at a home on Rufus Land Road.
The family of the missing Westminster woman has been made aware of the discovery of human remains; they were also advised an autopsy and further testing will be performed before a positive identification can be established and a cause of death.
The autopsy will be performed on Monday.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.