Cops: 2 St. Helena Island slayings may be linked

ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man found dead inside a burning car on St. Helena Island last week and say his killing may be linked to a slaying on the island the day before.

Investigators used fingerprints to identify the man found dead last Thursday as 32-year-old Joseph Washington. An autopsy was conducted, but authorities did not release a cause of death.

Last week, Beaufort County deputies said a man’s body was found inside a burning Buick Regal and it appeared he had been shot.

Investigators say it’s likely Washington’s killing is linked to the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Julius Chaplin the day before Washington’s body was found.

Deputies say Chaplin was killed in the driveway of his home.