Three homicides investigated in Clarendon County, SC

Clarendon County is currently investigating two recent homicides. The first involves the death of 32-year-old John Edward Rhames, who was found shot in the back of the head and left in a ditch in Summerton, SC. Authorities are actively investigating, but no suspects have been identified yet (Source: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/john-edward-rhames-iii-death-investigation/101-ed130c5d-57b4-4bc6-9428-95b50dc3fff6). In a separate incident, the body of 25-year-old Tyrese Najae Lawson was discovered by a passerby on a dirt road in the Home Branch Community; his death is also being treated as a homicide. Lawson had been reported missing after failing to report for work, and his vehicle, a 2010 black Nissan Altima, remains missing (Sources: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/tyrese-lawson-remains-found/101-00149777-a83b-4fec-947a-10ae28b6eeaf, https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/tyrese-lawson-remains-found/101-00149777-a83b-4fec-947a-10ae28b6eeaf, https://www.wistv.com/2025/04/15/missing-man-found-dead-clarendon-county-woods/). Both cases are under active investigation by local authorities and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).