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Watch: Man Robbed, Killed by Internet Escort

NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities say a man found shot to death on a road in Newberry County was killed during a robbery that started when he met a man from an internet escort site.
ABC Columbia Staff

NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities say a man found shot to death on a road in Newberry County was killed during a robbery that started when he met a man from an internet escort site.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said in a statement that 22-year-old Michael Spears shot and killed Jesse Sanders after kidnapping him from his Whitmire home and dumped his body Monday on the side of U.S. Highway 176.

Foster says the 62-year-old victim arranged to meet Spears at his Whitmire home on the social media website Backpage.

Foster says there were signs of a struggle at Sanders’ home and he was taken against his will to where he was shot and his body dumped.

Spears is awaiting a bond hearing. It wasn’t known if he had a lawyer.
Local News, News

Watch: Opening Day at Spirit Communications Park

ABC Columbia Staff

Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — On Thursday night, the Columbia Fireflies held their inaugural home opener at Spirit Communications Park on Bull Street. “I just like the facility it’s a beautiful park and i’d just like to see good baseball,” said resident Al Hornsby. The journey to opening day has been a long time in the making, including several years…
Local News, News

Watch: Testimony Continues in Bathroom Bill Hearing

ABC Columbia Staff

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — The state house battle over the “Bathroom Bill” continued on Thursday. A Senate subcommittee continued hearing testimony on the controversial legislation which would require individuals to use the bathroom corresponding with their biological sex. Senator Lee Bright, who proposed this legislation, and Senator Joel Lourie, who is strongly opposed, got an earful of opinions. On Wednesday…
Local News

State to Investigate Fires on Beaufort County School Buses

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) _ The South Carolina Department of Education is assembling a team to investigate why Beaufort County has been the site of half of the state's school bus fires so far this school year.
ABC Columbia Staff

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) _ The South Carolina Department of Education is assembling a team to investigate why Beaufort County has been the site of half of the state’s school bus fires so far this school year. Agency spokesman Dino Teppara tells The Island Packet of Hilton Head that a group of Columbia transportation officials and state staff will conduct a…
Newberry

Arrest Made in Murder of Newberry County Man

ABC Columbia Staff

NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. (PRESS RELEASE) — Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster has announced that an arrest has been made in the murder of Jesse O. Sanders. Sheriff Foster said that investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, State Law Enforcement Division, and Aiken County Sheriff’s Office worked together and brought every resource available into the investigation that resulted in this…
State

Official: FBI Reviewing SC Couple’s Cavity Search Case

ABC Columbia Staff

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Federal authorities are reviewing the case of a black South Carolina couple who say they were subjected to an illegal cavity search. A law enforcement official with knowledge of the inquiry says Thursday the FBI is among several agencies reviewing the case of Lakeya Hicks and Elijah Pontoon. The official spoke with The Associated Press on…
State

Ex-Boyfriend Charged in SC Death of Upstate New York Woman

ABC Columbia Staff

22-year-old Shannon Nicole Ditillio, who was found dead in Longs about four days after she came to the area from Buffalo, N.Y. (WPDE) LONGS, S.C. (AP) – Authorities in South Carolina say they have charged the ex-boyfriend of an upstate New York woman with her killing. Horry County Lt. Mark Bonner tells local media that 22-year-old Shannon DiTillio was found dead…
State

SC Senators Continue Hearings on Transgender Bathroom Bill

ABC Columbia Staff

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —  South Carolina senators are taking more testimony on a bill limiting the bathroom choices for transgender people, as debate on similar bills continues across the South. Most of the people at Wednesday’s hearing opposed the measure. Only a fraction of attendees could fit inside the room. A larger room has been reserved Thursday. Republican Sen. Lee…
News

Watch: NAACP Says Police Need Minority Training

ABC Columbia Staff

Aiken, S.C. (WOLO) — President of the Aiken County NAACP, Phillip Howell is calling a 2014 video showing a white North Augusta Officer, Justin Craven shooting and killing a black driver ,  68 year old Earnest Satterwhite is a “Despicable Crime”. Howell adds, officers need more training on how to deal with minorities. Click here to find out why he…