WATERLOO, S.C. — Two county coroners are at odds over whose remains were dug up behind a Waterloo home in Laurens County last week, and the family of a missing 87-year-old Chappells man is left waiting on lab work for a firm answer.
On Wednesday the Laurens County Coroner’s Office said the remains belonged to Edwin Geer. That office said it reached the conclusion from evidence collected in the case, a review of the available information and talks with the Geer family.
By Wednesday night, Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece pushed back. Her office said lab testing has not yet confirmed who the person was, and that while evidence points to a possible link to the missing man, confirmation is still pending.
Searchers came upon the body in a shallow grave behind the house. Because officials believe the death likely happened in Newberry County, the case now sits with the Newberry County Coroner’s Office.
Kneece cautioned that putting out an unconfirmed identity can cause families needless pain and shake public trust in the investigation, and she asked people not to speculate or pass along unverified details while testing is underway.
The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office has been searching for Geer, whose family reported him missing Oct. 22. He lived in Chappells, in the Summerset Bay neighborhood. Deputies describe him as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, about 145 pounds, with thinning white hair. His tan 2002 Chevrolet pickup, South Carolina tag XEZ770, is also missing.
Section: More Newberry SC crime news
Filed under: Newberry SC Public Safety News
