NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office plans to brief the public at 10:30 a.m. Friday on the case of Edwin Geer, an 87-year-old county man who disappeared from his home in the Summerset Bay community in Chappells this month.
The update comes after two coroners reached different conclusions about remains dug up this week. Investigators following leads from Newberry County found human remains in a shallow grave in Waterloo, in neighboring Laurens County, on Tuesday afternoon. Newberry County deputies worked the search alongside Laurens County deputies and agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
After an autopsy at a hospital in Greenville, Laurens County Coroner Patti Cannup said the evidence and talks with the family showed the remains were Geer. Her office then passed jurisdiction to Newberry County, since evidence points to the case starting at his home about 15 miles away.
Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece called that announcement premature. She said evidence points to a possible link to the missing man but that scientific testing has not yet confirmed who it is, and she asked people not to spread unverified details that could hurt families.
Deputies began searching after a neighbor saw Geer’s mail stacking up. His tan 2002 Chevrolet pickup, South Carolina tag XEZ770, was also listed as missing. No cause or manner of death has been released, and the investigation remains active.
Section: More Newberry SC crime news
Filed under: Newberry SC Public Safety News
