Missing woman found buried years later under firepit, officers say (2025)

WYFF NEWS FOUR AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN AS WE HEAD INTO LABOR DAY WEEKEND. I’LL LET YOU KNOW. BRAND NEW TIMING. PLUS, WHERE TEMPERATURES GO FROM HERE. THIS IS THE POINT THAT WE NEED TO THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. HAVING FUTURE GROWTH PAY FOR ITSELF. I’M REY LLERENA IN GREER WITH THE POTENTIAL NEW FEE THAT COULD BE ADDED TO ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION HERE AT FLAT ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THESE BOARDS OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM MATTER SO DO THESE LITTLE CUTE PINK FLAMINGOS. AND THEN THE GOLD. THIS BIG ONE HERE. I’M MAYA PAYTON ANDERSON COUNTY COMING UP. WE’RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT UNEXCUSED ABSENCES. WE BEGIN WITH OUR WEATHER TONIGHT. THE HEAT CONTINUES ACROSS THE CAROLINAS. AND GEORGIA. SEVERE STORMS ACROSS THE AREA HAVE PROMPTED A LIVE SUPER DOPPLER FOUR ALERT DAY. LET’S LOOK OUTSIDE FROM GREENVILLE TO ANDERSON. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRIS JUSTICE IS HERE. CHRIS, WHERE ARE THE STORMS RIGHT NOW? WE HEARD THEM A FEW MOMENTS AGO. YEAH, RIGHT OVER ANDERSON AND PICKENS COUNTY. BEEN WATCHING THIS VERY STRONG STORM RIGHT NOW. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUST EXPIRED. THE WARNING A LITTLE BIT EARLY AS IT HAS COLLAPSED, BUT IT IS STILL A VERY STRONG STORM THAT WE’RE WATCHING HERE BETWEEN GREENVILLE. IT WAS SET TO EXPIRE AT 615. ENOUGH SIGNS THAT IT’S A LITTLE BIT WEAKER, BUT STILL STRONG ACROSS PARTS OF EASLEY PICKENS. NOT DEALING WITH AS STRONG A WINDS THAT WERE UP AROUND 60MPH. THERE WAS ALSO SOME PEA SIZED HAIL FROM GREENVILLE TO EASLEY, DOWN THROUGH POWDERSVILLE. THAT HAS SINCE SIMMERED DOWN A LITTLE BIT AS WELL, BUT STILL VERY, VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE HAD A BRIEF, REALLY HEAVY RAIN, AND IT MOVED ON TO THE SOUTH AND WEST TAYLORS MILFORD UP THROUGH GREER, HAD SOME SHOWERS AND THEN STRETCHING DOWN TOWARD THE EASTERN EDGE OF LAKE HARTWELL. HERE FOR MASON’S CROSS ROAD TO NORTH LAKE TO EVERGREEN HILL. SEEING SOME SHOWERS. ALL CLEAR NOW IN ABBEVILLE AND GREENWOOD. AFTER A SEVERE STORM EARLIER AND IN THE MOUNTAINS THINGS ARE SIMMERING DOWN A BIT AS WELL. BOY, IT’S HOT, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT HAS NOT RAINED AROUND 90 THERE IN THE MID 80S WHERE IT HAS RAIN. FEELS ABOUT LIKE 98. IN HARTWELL. WE’VE YET TO SEE THE RAIN OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS. CAN’T RULE OUT SOME MORE SPOTTY STORMS THROUGH ABOUT NINE 10:00, BUT THEN CLEARING OUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. COMING UP, I’LL MAP OUT LABOR DAY WEEKEND FOR YOU. PLUS A MAJOR TEMPERATURE CHANGE COMING OUR WAY. THANK YOU CHRIS. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW BREAKING NEWS OUT OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING A GAS LEAK. THIS WAS THE SCENE FROM SKY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AGO AT THE CHARLESTON SPORTS PUB ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET. OFFICIALS SAY NO ONE WAS INSIDE THE BUILDING DUE TO THE BUSINESS BEING CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE LEARN MORE. A POTENTIAL FEE COULD BE ADDED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY OF GREER, DUE TO THE CITY’S GROWTH. THE CITY SAYS IT’S A POTENTIAL WAY TO MAKE SURE ITS QUALITY OF LIFE DOESN’T CHANGE. REY LLERENA JOINS US LIVE OUTSIDE CITY HALL WITH MORE. RAY. MAYOR RICK TANNER SAYS THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY HAS DISCUSSED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. HE SAYS IT’S A WAY THE CITY CAN CONTINUE WITH SMART GROWTH. HAVING FUTURE GROWTH PAY FOR ITSELF. THAT’S WHAT GREER OFFICIALS HOPE A POTENTIAL NEW IMPACT FEE ON DEVELOPMENT CAN ACCOMPLISH. IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE TO OUR COUNCIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN GREER AND HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE CARRY THE WHOLE LOAD OF WATER THEMSELVES. CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A STUDY FOR THE POTENTIAL FEE THIS WEEK. MAYOR RICK DANNER SAYS ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 1000 HOMES ARE BEING STARTED IN THE CITY. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. GREENVILLE AREA HAD THE THE CLIMATE THAT I WANTED. IT WAS LESS EXPENSIVE. I COULD AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. THE FEES RATES ARE NOT YET KNOWN, BUT IT WOULD BE COLLECTED ONCE A NEW PERMIT IS PULLED. DANNER SAYS THE MONEY COULD GO TO SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE FIRE, POLICE AND RECREATION. I THINK ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP GREER BEING A PART OF GREER FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WOULD BRIDGE TO ALI. I THINK WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. DANNER SAYS THE PROPOSAL ISN’T EXPECTED TO AFFECT GROWTH, BUT IT COULD AFFECT THE PRICE OF CONSTRUCTION. THERE IS A COST TO THE PERSON THAT IS DEVELOPING THE PROJECT OR THE HOMES, AND SO INDIRECTLY, I’M GOING TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD PASS THAT ALONG IN SOME REGARD TO TO THE COST OF A HOME. RAY, ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS TO THIS POTENTIAL FEE? NIGEL. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SCHOOLS AND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS WILL NOT BE ASSESSED. THIS POTENTIAL FEE, SHOULD IT PASS THE CITY’S PLANNING COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO HOLD A PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER NEXT MONTH. REPORTING LIVE IN GREER, RAY REYNA, WYFF NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT. RAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES TONIGHT INTO A FIRE IN DOWNTOWN CLINTON THIS MORNING. A HOT SPOT REIGNITED IN THE SAME AREA WHERE SEVERAL BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED ON TUESDAY. FLAMES COULD BE SEEN POPPING UP FROM THE BUILDING WHERE HOUSE OF PIZZA ONCE STOOD. THE MASSIVE FIRE DESTROYED FOUR BUSINESSES ON TUESDAY. A GROUP DESCRIBES THE BUILDING AS OLD, WITH BASEMENTS AND A LOT OF WOOD STRUCTURES. THE BUILDINGS HAVE BASEMENTS AND ALL, AND A LOT OF WOOD STRUCTURES ON THE INSIDE, AND THEY FIGHTING IT RIGHT NOW FROM BOTH SIDES. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE SPREAD THROUGH THE BASEMENT AND THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. THE GREENVILLE COUNTY CORONER SAYS A DRIVER WAS KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH INVOLVING SEVEN VEHICLES. IT HAPPENED AROUND MIDNIGHT ON INTERSTATE 85 NORTH. TROOPERS SAY A MOTORCYCLE HIT A DUMP TRUCK FROM BEHIND, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION WITH FIVE OTHER VEHICLES. WE ARE TOLD 50 YEAR OLD TRAVIS JONES DIED AT THE SCENE. ALL THE OTHER DRIVERS INVOLVED WERE NOT INJURED. IN LAVONIA, GEORGIA, A MAN IS CHARGED AFTER POLICE SAY HE CLAIMED TO BE A HOMELESS VETERAN AND MONEY WAS RAISED TO HELP HIM AND HIS DOG. THE HART COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE MADE A FACEBOOK POST ABOUT A VETERAN WHO HAD FALLEN BEHIND ON BILLS AND LOST HIS HOUSE. THE POST RAISED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND WYFF NEWS FOUR COVERED THE STORY AT THE TIME. AFTER INVESTIGATION, MICHAEL WALKER IS NOW CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEFT BY DECEPTION. IN OCONEE COUNTY, A MAN IS CHARGED WITH BEATING UP HIS ROOMMATE, THEN BOARDING A CAT BUS BEFORE PULLING A KNIFE ON A DEPUTY. DEPUTIES SAY DAYLAN DIX IS FACING A LONG LIST OF CHARGES. THEY WERE CALLED TO HIGH POINT BOULEVARD IN SENECA TUESDAY MORNING. WE ARE TOLD THE MAN WAS WEARING NO CLOTHES WHILE ON A CLEMSON AREA TRANSIT BUS. DEPUTIES WERE ABLE TO ARREST HIM AND TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY. HE IS AT THE OCONEE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY. THE SOLICITOR SAYS A 24 YEAR OLD MAN WILL SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS IN CONNECTION WITH A 2021 MURDER. OFFICIALS SAY JAMES BOYD WAS FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING KUSH PATEL. IT HAPPENED AT A HOME IN BOILING SPRINGS BACK IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR. DEPUTIES SAY BYRD ADMITTED TO TAKING LSD AND XANAX, ALONG WITH DRINKING ALCOHOL AND SMOKING MARIJUANA, AND THOUGHT PATEL WAS ATTACKING HIM. BYRD WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE IN ANDERSON COUNTY. A FLATROCK ELEMENTARY CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM HAS REACHED ALARMING LEVELS, AND THE PRINCIPAL ISN’T JUST STANDING BY. SHE IS WORKING TO CORRECT IT. OUR MAYA PEYTON JOINS US NOW TO SHARE HOW THE PRINCIPAL IS GETTING CREATIVE TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS SHOW UP AND SUCCEED. NIGEL AND CAROL HERE AT FLATROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I’M TOLD THANKS TO RUBBER DUCKIES AND STUFFED FLAMINGOS THAT HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES, THEY WILL IMPROVE. NOW TO THESE STUDENTS, THEY MAY JUST BE RUBBER DUCKIES, BUT THESE TEACHERS SAY THAT THESE DUCKS SYMBOLIZE THAT STUDENTS ARE HERE. THEY’RE FED, THEY’RE LOVED, AND MOST OF ALL, THEY ARE READY TO LEARN. NOW, PRINCIPAL KRISTI DODD SAYS SHE NOTICED A RISE IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM ON THE STATE REPORT CARD. SHE SAYS TWO YEARS AGO, IT SHOWED 16.1%. AND THEN IN A SPAN OF A YEAR, IT WENT TO 18%. WELL, IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOMS, SHE HAS IMPLEMENTED A FLAMINGO ATTENDANCE REWARD WHERE STUDENTS COMPETE FOR RUBBER DUCKS WHEN CLASSES EXCEED OR MEETS THE GOAL, THEY RECEIVE THEM, THE ONES WITH THE MOST AT THE END OF THE MONTH GETS A PLUSH FLAMINGO, SHE SAYS. CAUSE OF UNEXPECTED ABSENCES CAN BE HARD TO IDENTIFY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SCHOOL INTERVENTION PLANS WITH PARENTS DO NOT WORK. BUT SHE SUSPECTS SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DUE TO FAMILY EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AND STRESS. WE HAVE SOLID PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO WORK WITH FAMILIES, AND SO MY ADVICE IS JUST CALL US AND GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOU BECAUSE WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO HELP, TO HELP OUR FAMILIES, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING TO SCHOOL. DODD SAYS TRUANCY STARTS WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE OR FIVE TOTAL UNEXCUSED ABSENCES, PROMPTING A SCHOOL INTERVENTION. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR MISSED. NOW FOR EXTREME CASES. DODD SAYS THAT IT COULD MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL. SHE SAID IN EXTREME CASES THAT IT COULD LEAD TO THE SCHOOL BOARD GETTING INVOLVED. AND SHE SAID IT COULD ALSO LEAD TO FAMILY COURT. BUT SHE HOPES IT NEVER REACHES THAT FAR. BUT OF COURSE, SOMETIMES IT DOES.