Body discovered in woods by hunters confirmed to be missing SC woman, coroner says
The body of a woman found in the woods of Oconee County on Saturday may put a family one step closer to closure.
According to the Oconee County Coroner’s Office, hunters discovered the body at about 8:30 a.m. in a remote, wooded area at the end of Rufus Land Road, a rural-two lane stretch surrounded by trees and dotted with houses. The woman’s body was located about six miles from the town center of Westminster.
“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,” Coroner Karl Addis said Saturday in a statement. The family of the missing Westminster woman was told about the discovery of the human remains.
On Monday, Addis confirmed the body was the missing woman, Renee Rowland King.
The 42-year-old King was identified by dental records, x-rays, and a tattoo, according to Addis.
In January, King was reported missing to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office by a family member. The relative told deputies King was last seen on Nov. 28, 2020, at a home on Rufus Land Road.
It is estimated King died on Nov. 28, and her body was in an advanced state of decomposition, Addis said.
No obvious signs of trauma were found in an autopsy, and toxicology studies will be conducted, according to the coroner’s office. This analysis may take 60 to 90 days.
No cause of death was determined, and Oconee County sheriff’s deputies are investigating if any crime caused King’s death.
This story was originally published February 6, 2021 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Body discovered in woods by hunters confirmed to be missing SC woman, coroner says."
