NEWBERRY COUNTY — The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding the person or persons responsible for the shooting death of Jesse Sanders, a well-known resident of Whitmire.
Sanders’ body was discovered on a grassy shoulder near Molly’s Rock Park just after 7 a.m. Monday by a motorist traveling on U.S. 176.
Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton ruled the death a homicide after the autopsy revealed Sanders, 62, had been shot multiple times. Sheriff Lee Foster said they will not release the number of times Sanders was shot, or where, citing the integrity of the investigation.
Foster said they were able to identify Sanders because a number of employees of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office are from Whitmire and knew him. Sanders was a funeral director for a funeral home in Clinton, and interacted with many people in Whitmire.
“We were primarily able to identify him because of the number of good employees we have from Whitmire, he (Sanders) is a familiar person from Whitmire,” Foster said. “Most people that have lived in Whitmire and are a part of the community, would know who he was.”
After investigators believed they had an ID, they went to Sanders’ home on Byrd Street in Whitmire. Once inside the residence, investigators discovered signs of a struggle throughout the home.
“Forensic evidence is currently being processed, but that takes a while to analyze,” Foster said.
Foster said it appears the incident began inside the home and he was taken to the U.S. 176 location. The distance from Sanders’ home to the location he was found is roughly 10 miles.
“Over the years, that has been a popular place to dispose of bodies, I have known four in the last 25 years,” Foster said. “The reason why, it is a very remote area.”
Foster said there are no suspects at this time but investigators are certain there are witnesses who can help.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 803-321-2211, www.newberrycountysheriff.com or call Crime Stoppers of the Midlands at 1-888-CRIMESC.
A reward to being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime.