HEMINGWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Hemingway Police Department says the coroner’s office has identified the human remains discovered in December 2015 by a hunter in a wooded area off of Atlantic Avenue.
Several law enforcement offices investigated after a hunter in Hemingway stumbled upon what police reported were possible human remains December 7, 2015.
According to Chief H. Bryan Todd with Hemingway Police Department, officers responded to Atlantic Avenue around 3:49 p.m. Dec. 7 to “the possible discovery of human remains.” A hunter met officers after he located the remains in a wooded area close to a ditch, adds Chief Todd.
Nearly four months later, Chief Todd says the Williamsburg County Coroner’s Office identified the remains as William Berkely Harrison, 43, of Hemingway. Chief Todd released the information Tuesday in a press release where he also mentioned the Harrison family.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Harrison family. This has been a long and trying ordeal for the family,” Chief Todd expressed.
Upon discovery, the body was severely decomposed beyond recognition, reports Chief Todd. Hemingway Police requested the assistance of the Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division concerning the remains. Williamsburg County Coroner, Harrison Mcknight, also responded to the scene, and confirmed the remains were human.
The remains were collected and transported to the Medical University of South Carolina for an autopsy.
Signs of foul play were not discovered during the autopsy, confirms Chief Todd. The cause of death could not be determined.
