On May 24, 1995, the deceased body of an unidentified woman — clad only in Leonisa brand panties — was discovered in a roadside drainage ditch off of Cotton Hall Road in Yemassee. There were no forms of identification, to include tattoos or jewelry, found..
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BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS
Herman Gaston
Shortly after 11 p.m. May 5, 2015, 34-year-old Herman Gaston left his University Park apartment in Bluffton to drive to a nearby gas station.
Read MoreRhashard Spikes
About 9 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2015, 24-year-old Rhashard Spikes drove out of the Hilton Head Gardens apartment complex onto Southwood Park Drive and almost collided with another vehicle.
Read MoreMichael Steven Akey
On June 24, 1972, 14-year-old Michael Steven Akey was reported to be abducted by an unknown subject near a watermelon patch at Trammell’s Market — which in at the time was in the area of Joe Frazier and Godwin roads in Burton.
Read MoreMISSING PERSONS
HELP SOLVE
A COLD CASE
A reward of up to $5,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest in any of Beaufort County’s cold cases.
If you have any information regarding an unsolved case in Beaufort County, please contact Major Bob Bromage at 843-255-3402 or 843-816-8013 or [email protected]
For those wishing to remain anonymous, click here or call Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
During some criminal investigations, all credible leads may be exhausted and the case becomes stagnant.
When this happens, the case becomes cold.
No matter how insignificant the information may seem, it could prove to be the key in solving a cold case.
If you have any information regarding these unsolved cold cases, please contact Major Bob Bromage at (843) 255- 3402, (843) 816-8013 or [email protected]
For more information on how to report a crime in Beaufort County, click here.
To view all of the cold case investigations in Beaufort County, click here.
If you provide information on a Beaufort County cold case investigation that leads to an arrest, you could receive a reward of up to $5,000.
FORENSIC SERVICES LABORATORY
About the Laboratory
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s is an internationally accredited laboratory. The laboratory was awarded its accreditation through ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board/FQS-Forensic Quality Services- International (FQS-), based on ISO/IEC17025:2005 internationally developed and approved standards.
The laboratory primarily provides services to law enforcement agencies within Beaufort County but will also assist agencies of the surrounding counties. The primary responsibilities of the scientists are to: provide technical assistance and training, evaluate and analyze evidence, interpret results and provide expert testimony related to the analyses of physical evidence recovered from a criminal incident and submitted for examination. The laboratory consists of two sections: Forensic Biology/DNA and Forensic Chemistry /Controlled Substances and Ignitable Liquids.
MISSION
The mission of the BCSO Forensic Services to provide the citizens of Beaufort County with quality forensic services in order to assist in the control of crime and the administration of justice.
This mission is accomplished through the collaborative efforts of forensic scientists and analysts with the greatest degree of professionalism and ethics. Established methods and procedures are used to ensure the quality, integrity, and reliability of scientific conclusions.
FORENSIC SERVICES PERSONNEL
- Lt Renita Berry, Laboratory Director, 843-255-3602
- John Donahue, DNA Technical Leader, 843-255-3605
- Tim French, DNA Analyst/LIMS Admin, 843-255-3606
- Andrew Garinger, DNA Analyst, 843-255-3617
- Jessie Ziepfel, Chemist, 843-255-3616
- Jordan Kolat, DNA Technician
Forensic Chemistry
Controlled Substances:
Examiners in the Controlled Substances Section analyze materials for the presence of controlled substances. Both chemical and instrumental techniques are used to conduct analyses. Controlled substances may be present in substrates that include powders, solid materials, liquids, plant material, mushrooms, blotter paper, and food items. In addition, the section examines pharmaceutical preparations in the form of tablets, capsules, injectables and transdermal patches. Examiners will also analyze evidence that is related to the suspected clandestine manufacture of controlled substances.
Ignitable Liquids:
Examiners analyze material recovered from suspected arson crime scenes. Extractions are performed and identifications are made using the gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Analysis is typically for the presence or absence of ignitable liquids.
Forensic Biology
Examiners in the Forensic Biology Section routinely examine items of evidence for the presence of biological material. After the proper samples for comparison purposes are obtained, DNA analysis can be conducted on these stains, and conclusions can be drawn as to whether an individual can be eliminated or included as a possible contributor to the genetic material identified.
In cases in which a suspect has not yet been identified or an identified suspect has been eliminated, the DNA profile obtained from the evidence can be entered in the DNA Data Bank and searched at the local, state, and national levels for possible matches to convicted offenders, arrestees, and/or other crime scene samples.
Additional Forensic Services
Digital and Multimedia Evidence (DME) Section:
The Digital & Multimedia Evidence (DME) Section encompasses the preservation, acquisition, processing and analysis of electronically stored information (ESI). Digital Forensics involves the scientific examination and analysis of electronic information stored on a wide variety of computer, mobile and digital-storage devices, such as Computer Systems, Mobile Devices and Digital Storage Devices.
Latent Prints Unit:
Latent examiners manually compare fingerprints recovered from crime scenes to those of suspects and victims of crime. Latent fingerprints or palm prints that are determined to be of sufficient quality are entered into Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) which searches the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) database for a match.
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