Human remains turned up in a trash container at the Westwood Park Apartments in Bennettsville on Thursday, April 23, triggering a multi‑agency response in Marlboro County and leaving neighbors rattled. Family members have been notified while authorities work to confirm an identity, and officials have not released a cause or manner of death.
How the remains were discovered
Bennettsville police say officers were called after a resident reported suspicious contents in a garbage can. Inside, investigators found skeletal human remains believed to be those of an adult. Because of the condition of the remains and the complexity of the scene, the department requested help from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and alerted the Marlboro and Chesterfield county coroner’s offices. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Bennettsville Police Department at 843‑479‑3620, according to WMBF.
Arrest and charges
Investigators later arrested Luke Douglas Jr. Police say he was believed to be the last person seen with the victim and admitted to hiding the remains in a storage area of his apartment before putting them in the trash can. Douglas was booked on a charge listed by the county detention center as destruction or desecration of human remains. Bennettsville’s police chief called the case “complex and deeply concerning,” according to WYFF.
Possible link to a long‑missing woman
Authorities are also looking at whether the remains could be those of Lashaunda Spurlock, a Chesterfield County woman who disappeared in late April 2024. Local officials say clothing matching what Spurlock was last seen wearing was recovered during the investigation. An autopsy and DNA testing will be needed to confirm any match before officials make an identification. The update was reported by WIS.
What investigators say will come next
Marlboro County Coroner De’Aron Smith told reporters the remains appear to have been deceased for an extended period, which makes visual identification difficult and likely requires DNA and anthropological analysis. Smith said the remains are being held in his office while SLED conducts forensic testing, a process that could take weeks. These details were outlined by local reporters, according to WMBF.
Legal process and next steps
For now, Douglas faces a charge related to the removal or desecration of human remains. Authorities say any additional charges will depend on the autopsy results and any forensic identifications. Local and state agencies are coordinating the evidence and say they will release updates when an identification is confirmed or if new charges are filed. Coverage to date has been summarized by local outlets, including WBTV.
