The Laurens County Coroner's Office has issued these statements:
The Laurens County Coroner’s Office has been called out to Ware Shoals regarding a body that was discovered in a wooded area.
The body appeared to have been there for several weeks and was in an advanced state of decomposition. It has been transported to the Greenville morgue, where an autopsy will be performed. Following the autopsy, the remains will be examined by an anthropologist to assist in determining the individual’s identity and biological profile.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available.
The Laurens County Coroner’s Office was placed on pre-alert regarding a reported drowning on Lake Martin off Highway 92 in Gray Court.
According to the caller, his friend fell off a boat and did not resurface .The dive teams were called and have been searching the water for several hours but have not yet located the individual.
Search operations will resume in the morning (April 1). The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Laurens County Fire Department, and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office are all assisting with the response.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
UPDATE:
Laurens County Coroner Patti Canupp has identified the individual recovered from Lake Martin as Thomas F. Campbell Jr., a 72-year-old man known to family and friends as “Skip.”
Mr. Campbell was well known in the community and was recognized for his willingness to volunteer and assist others, including helping Courtney Snow with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office in various needs.
An autopsy has been conducted, and officials are currently awaiting the final determination regarding the cause and manner of death.
Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
