Human remains were discovered in a barrel floating in a lake on Thursday, prompting an investigation by Cherokee County law enforcement and the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office. According to local FOX Carolina, police in Cherokee County claimed to have detained Eric Shawn Fetzer for the tragic incident.
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Who was Eric Fetzer?
Eric Fetzer is a 25-year-old South California man who was arrested for destruction, desecration, or removal of human remains, according to local FOX Carolina.
The arrest happened when deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office joined the emergency management teams of Spartanburg County, Cherokee County, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and Lake Thicketty in rural Gaffney on Thursday.
The 56-year-old Jeffrey Sutphin was reported missing on June 15 and the corpse was later recognized by the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office as his remains. “Deputies found the barrel near the shore and upon opening it found human remains,” Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said. “It appears the body had been in the container for a number of days.”
According to the local CBS affiliate WSPA, sheriff Steve Mueller claimed that after hauling the partially submerged barrel onshore and cracking it open, authorities discovered the remains. Regarding the body in the barrel, investigators believe there may have been foul play.
“We’ve still got about four investigators out working, as we speak, running down some leads and some information on this case. It’s developing fairly well,” Mueller said. “It’s part of an ongoing investigation that led us to that area to search and look for human remains.”
Anyone with information about the death investigation is asked to call 1-888-CRIME-SC.
